Between Myths and Facts: The Contribution of Exchange Experiences to the Professional Development of Teachers

Abstract

This contribution provides an overview of different facets that can be developed or promoted in exchange stays and that are specific for teachers. By systematizing the available findings with a conceptual approach, it assigns the majority of the findings to three different facets of teaching-specific "intercultural competencies": It indicates a potential to develop professional knowledge, teaching-specific beliefs as well as motivational orientations that allow students to engage actively in challenging intercultural situations. The overview uncovers a range of methodological constraints in the prevailing literature and reveals an urgent need to add more solid evidence specifically in the context of teacher education.