Name
Using Sitcoms to Teach Intercultural Communication in Agricultural and Life Sciences Education
Date & Time
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Speakers
Description
In agricultural and life sciences education, creating learning environments that promote reflection and meaningful connections to course content can enhance learning; however, designing such environments remains challenging. One instructional strategy involves using sitcoms as a learning tool. This study examined sitcom use in an intercultural communication course to address three objectives: (1) to understand students’ attitudes toward cultural differences portrayed in sitcoms, (2) to examine students’ awareness of intercultural communication within these portrayals, and (3) to identify students’ intended applications of intercultural competence developed through sitcom-based learning. A qualitative case study was employed, drawing on 19 student reflections collected after viewing Kim’s Convenience and engaging in guided discussions. Reflections were analyzed using open and thematic coding to identify recurring themes.
For the first objective, students reported developing greater intercultural self-awareness, recognizing how their own cultural lenses and communication styles shape their perspectives on cultural differences. Students also expressed greater appreciation for culturally diverse communication practices, highlighting the importance of patience, open-mindedness, and interpreting behavior within a cultural context rather than through ethnocentric judgments. For objective two, students demonstrated intercultural awareness by identifying core cultural values and recognizing language and generational differences as central to communication and identity. For objective three, students described plans to apply skills such as open listening, empathy, and perspective-taking in future academic and professional settings, while acknowledging that intercultural communication is an ongoing, imperfect process that requires effort, reflection, and learning from mistakes. These findings suggest that sitcom-based reflection activities offer an accessible, adaptable instructional strategy for agricultural and life sciences educators seeking to integrate intercultural learning into content-heavy curricula. By pairing popular media with structured reflection and discussion, instructors can foster student engagement, promote critical self-reflection, and support the development of intercultural competencies essential for working in multicultural agricultural and life sciences contexts.
Location Name
Clark
Full Address
The Mill at Mississippi State University
600 Russell Street
Starkville, MS 39759
United States
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Topic(s)
Scholarship
Presentation Track(s)
Morning
Schedule Block
Block 5
Authors
Jose Antonio Molina, Department of Agricult Ana Lucia Murray, Department of Agricult María Fernanda Zepeda Andrade, Department of Agricult Pablo Lamino, Department of Agricult