Intercultural teaching : a critical analysis of the African Bible College in Malawi

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this thesis is to determine, in a practical theological way, (1) the impact culture ishaving on the teaching at the African Bible College, (2) to develop a revised praxis for theintercultural teaching at ABC, and (3) for ABC to become a more culturally relevant teachinginstitution as a result. Since cultural differences can often become a great barrier for anyintercultural endeavor, and being that ABC is made up of mostly American professors andmostly Malawian students, there is a need to evaluate the challenges that are taking place in thismixed cultural institution.The research questions, which this study addresses, are as follows:1. What kind of intercultural teaching exists at ABC? What are some of thestrengths and weaknesses of ABC's intercultural teaching? What are some of thecurrent intercultural barriers existing at ABC? How do Malawian learning styles /cultural issues play into intercultural teaching? What kind of 'cultural baggageexists at ABC?2. What does it mean to be culturally relevant and why is it important? In otherwords, what are some of the key elements of teaching interculturally? What aresome of the common problems? What is contextualization? Interculturation?Westernization? Etc.3. What is desirable intercultural teaching for ABC? In other words, what modelsin intercultural teaching would be more appropriate for ABC and why? Whatshould effective intercultural teaching look like at ABC? How can ABC sustainlong-term and effective intercultural teaching?An introduction to the subject of intercultural teaching and an empirical investigation of ABC'steaching is the focus of chapter 2. Chapter 3 introduces several intercultural teaching models andtheories that were then used to evaluate and interpret the teaching at ABC. Chapter 3 is mostly devoted to the interpretation of ABC's teaching in light of these models. Chapter 4 has beendevoted to laying out a theological and ethical basis (the normative task) for interculturalteaching. Chapter 5 focuses on the revised praxes for ABC, offering several suggestions forbecoming a more culturally relevant teaching institution. In addition, several recommendationsfor further research and study were made at the end of this thesis.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University