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Dear Intercultural Communication members,
This issue of InterCom is our Fall 2021 edition! In store for you in this newsletter, we have several pieces about intercultural learning and communication in addition to announcements of upcoming events and our second “Member Spotlight.”
To open, Leslie Bohon and Barbara Lapornik bring together their students, based in the U.S. and Italy, to discuss what practices and activities inspired intercultural learning for their students. Authors Bohon and Lapornik interview seven of their students on a panel. This article and accompanying video highlight the students’ comments regarding intercultural learning inspired from classroom activities.The discussion affords us, as teachers, the opportunity to expand our understanding as to which of our practices are most impactful.
In addition, in the piece written by Aviva Ueno from Meiji Gakuin University in Yokohama, Japan, Ueno considers the importance of the senpai (senior)/kohai (junior) relationship as a means to motivate her Japanese English language learners. Ueno explains that “based on seniority, [the senpai/kohai relationship] exists within all educational, business, or sports settings in Japan. It is a codependent relationship in which senpai are responsible for teaching and mentoring their kohai, and in return, kohai show respect for their senpai.” Furthermore, author Ueno illustrates the importance of this cultural dimension when it is missing, as she found was the case during the restrictions due to the pandemic. is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Ueno’s piece underscores the importance of cultural relevance in the classroom.
We are happy to publish our second “Member Spotlight” with a video from ICIS board member Amina Douidi. In Douidi’s video greeting, she talks about why she is passionate about intercultural communication research and the value she finds in being part of the ICIS global community.
Finally, we would like to continue this new video greeting “Member Spotlight” tradition by inviting any ICIS member to create an introduction about themselves and their work regarding intercultural communication. Please click this link for video tips and question prompts.
We trust you will enjoy the features in this newsletter. We hope the winter break brings you health and peace.
Leslie Bohon, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA
Josephine Prado, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
Amina Douidi, University of Southampton, UK
ICIS Newsletter Co-Editors | 
