Intercultural Service Learning: Theory, Practice and Assessment

This book provides a much-needed overview of the theory and practice of intercultural service learning (ISL), an approach that combines curricular learning, intercultural encounters and community service. It includes a model that outlines the essential components of this pedagogy and which is intended to serve as a foundation for practitioners developing their projects. Practical examples offer templates and inspiration, while the scholarly examination of the projects demonstrates the approach’s potential. The book concludes with considerations on how to assess intercultural and democratic competences in ISL projects and practical implementation guidelines. Suitable for both in-service foreign language educators at all levels and for use in teacher training, the book provides a practical guide to a holistic pedagogy that is increasingly being used by educators keen to engage their students in an ever more interconnected world.

Petra Rauschert is a Senior Lecturer in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Germany. Her research focuses on intercultural education, and she has been engaged in service learning for nearly two decades, involving secondary school and university students in local and international projects. She founded the international service learning network Weitblick - Students in Action e.V.

Jacqueline Alexander is an elementary school teacher in Switzerland and has also taught in Germany, the US and Turkey. She has conducted multiple intercultural service learning projects with both university and elementary school students.