Stories of Personal Agency

Abstract

Knowledge of how students perceive their development of intercultural competence (IC), one of several study abroad learning outcomes, is important for better understanding how learning occurs in study abroad contexts. The purpose of this article is to explore undergraduate students’ perceptions of developing IC during a semester abroad. Reflective journals and semistructured interviews were used to collect narratives on intercultural communication and behavior from seven U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad in Chile. Findings suggest that personal agency played an important role in participants’ development of IC. IC occurred when participants made intentional and purposeful changes in their communication and behavior to fit Chilean cultural norms. Study abroad programs can support students to build their self-efficacy and agency in intercultural interactions.