An experimental study of bilingual couple´s communication
Language practices by bilingual couples has not been deeply investigated yet. Piller makes an excellent approach of the methods that could be use when researching on how bilingual couples communicate.
An experimental study of bilingual couple´s communication. Ingrid Piller. University of Hamburg(PDF, 1,94MB)
25.04.08 | biculturalism, binational families, communication, experiences, multicultural | CommentsBikulturelle Ehen - Ehen mit Zukunft
Jedes Paar hat seine eigene Konstellation, sagt J.Lang, aber “statistisch gesehen ist es sogar so, dass Beziehungen, wo der Mann Schweizer ist und die Frau Ausländerin, länger halten, als wenn zwei Schweizer verheiratet sind”.
Herr Lang ist Eheberater in der Schweiz und im “deutschprachigen Internet”. Er stellt in seinem Text eine andere Perspektive von multi- und bikulturellen Konflikten in Beziehungen dar: und zwar jene der Therapeuten, wenn multikulturelle Paare zu Ihnen zur Beratung kommen. Selbst wenn der Therapeut neutral bleiben will, spielen die für ihn selbstverständlichen Grundlage seiner eigenen Kultur eine wichtige Rolle.
Artikel lesen: Bikulturelle Ehen – Ehen mit Zukunft. By J. Lang. In: Psychoscope, Bern 2002 (PDF, 177KB) Eheberatung & Info – J.Lang: www.paarberatung.ch
7.04.08 | biculturalism, binational families, communication, conflict, family, multicultural, tips | CommentsAllophilia and Intergroup Leadership
Why not promoting liking of other groups instead of keep talking about prejudice and tolerance? I find that Todd Pittinksky developes a very interesting approach of reducing problems like racism, sexism, discrimination and you know the rest… and he argues that the necessary approach is not to replace prejudice with the neutral stance of tolerance. He uses the concept of allophilia, that provides a powerful anchor for a new framework for understanding intergroup leadership. “To help solve some of our most pressing domestic and global public problems, social scientists must develop an equally sophisticated understanding of intergroup liking and love.”
Allophilia and Intergroup Leadership. By Todd L. Pittinsky. 2005 (PDF, 200KB)
Ciclo de Adaptación Intercultural
Bettina Hansel explica de manera muy simple en este documento las fases por la que pasa un estudiante de intercambio, a lo largo de su experiencia intercultural en un país de otra cultura. El documento lo he encontrado en la página de AFS, la organización con la que hice mi primer viaje al extranjero, y en el cual experimenté y analicé todas estas fases… y lo sigo haciendo!
Ciclo de Adaptación Intercultural. Bettina Hansel (AFS Intercultural Programs ). 2007.
(PDF 36KB)
Las acciones punitivas físicas: una perspectiva intercultural

En muchas sociedades todavía se utliza el castigo físico en los niños, como sinónimo de disciplina. El uso o no del castigo físico es un factor que debe tomar en cuenta y analizar a fondo aquella pareja bicultural que decida criar a un niño. La manera anti-autoritaria o muy autoritaria en que hayan sido criados los miembros de la pareja, puede marcar fuertemente la dirección que se decida tomar sobre la educación del niño. En muchos casos, si la pareja no ha analizado a fondo este tema, puede traer consigo discusiones en el seno familiar. En este ensayo, de M. del Mar Badía, se enmarca el término de castigo corporal diferenciándolo del de abuso físico, a la vez que se realiza un análisis sobre la perspectiva de diferentes países con relación a la aplicación de dicha forma de castigo.
Leer Ensayo completo: Las acciones punitivas físicas: una perspectiva intercultural
Intercultural marriage and intimacy: Beyond the continental divide

“The presence of intercultural marriages and intimacy is clear and expanding in societies throughout the globe. Cultural groups tend generally to have a more accepting attitude toward couples that have chosen mates outside their immediate ethnic or cultural identity.
The focus of this paper addresses some of the issues, challenges, and opportunities that exist as individuals choose persons for intimacy or marriage beyond the continental divide. A pyramidal model is introduced to assist the reader in understanding the framework upon which this manuscript is based.” -Abstract
Read complete paperwork here: Intercultural Marriage and Intimacy Beyond the Continental Divide – McFadden and Moore (PDF, 76KB)
More information about James L. Moore III here.
23.07.07 | | CommentsLearning Foreign Languages is good for the brain

Even if I never found the source of the research in which this article is based, I´m publishing it because I really think that if you keep learning and speaking languages, your brain could “live” longer!
Read article here: Learning Foreign Languages is good for the brain
21.07.07 | bilingualism, statistics | CommentsRelationship Conflict: Is it cultural or psychological?

Sometimes conflicts come from cultural differences, but in other cases, the psychological factor is decisive…“When you are trying to decide if a conflict with your spouse is cultural or psychological, assume the stronger your emotional response to the conflict, the more likely some psychological factors are involved. “
Relationship Conflict by Harriet Cannon (PDF, 1,03MB)
11.07.07 | advice, communication, multicultural, romance, tips | CommentsRaising children bilingually

Raising children bilingually and biculturally should be something that ultimately brings you satisfaction and joy. This doesn’t mean you won’t hit many bumps in the road and at times feel like you are the only person in the world speaking your language.
“Ask Yourself: Why, What, Who, When, Where?“
In this article, Corey Heller, from the Bicultural family Network , explains some inicial considerations about raising kids bilingually and to help you start things off on the right foot.
21.06.07 | biculturalism, bilingualism, binational families, family, multicultural, multilingualism | CommentsCross-cultural communication in intimate relationships

What is a cross-cultural intimate relationship? What does it has to do with globalization?
The author focuses on one type of intimate relationship, namely romantic and sexual couple relationships and analyses couples in which the partners come from different national and/or linguistic backgrounds. Globalization has a main role in this research concerning the increasing international mobility, international data flow, and international cultural exchange.
Cross-cultural communication in intimate relationships. Ingrid Piller, Basel University. 2007(PDF, 120KB)
15.06.07 | binational families, communication, multicultural, multilingualism |Favorite Myths about Bilingualism

There are a lot of myths about being a bilingual person. Maybe you are bilingual and you did not know… A bilingual person uses two languages in the everyday life; but it does not mean that this person knows the two (or more) languages equally well and optimally.
Read the following article, written by an expert, and find out another perspective about Bilingualism.
Favorite Myths about Bilingualism by François Grosjean.
Need Advice in Raising Bilingual Children?

Have you found yourself hitting some stumbling blocks along the way in raising your children in more than one language? The Bicultural Family Network is specialized on helping multicultural families on how to deal with difficulties in raising bilingual and multilingual children. I strongly recommend the Multilingual Living Magazine if you´re interested in research, tips, advice, examples and more…
7.06.07 | advice, biculturalism, bilingualism, binational families, family, multicultural, multilingualism, tips | CommentsMobile Device against Cultural Shock / Juego móvil contra el choque cultural

The University of PortsMouth has developed a mobile phone game to help overseas students deal with culture shock of life in Britain.
Complete article here / Articulo completo aquí
Académicos de la Universidad de PortsMouth han desarrollado un videojuego para móvil, que intenta reducir el choque cultural de los estudiantes extranjeros que van a estudiar a Inglaterra.
28.05.07 | communication, cultural shock, new technologies | CommentsGender and Multilingualism

The authors of this paper do a brief explanation of how the use of “multilingualism” in direct relation with gender, economic production and social reproduction in the context of globalization.
“Globalization has been described as consisting of flows of goods, capital, communication, and people. Many of these flows throw people of widely different linguistic and cultural backgrounds into contact, be it the flows of information and mass media, or be it actual people flows as in migration and tourism.”
Globalization, Gender and Multilingualism. Ingrid Piller and Aneta Pavlenko, 2007(PDF, 68KB)
Información oficial para contraer Matrimonio Civil en España

Si tú o tu pareja es extranjera, residentes en España, y quieren contraer matrimonio en ese país, deberán presentar los siguientes documentos: ver artículo completo

