Do u understand mzungu? : Volunteers’ conception of ICC development

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to obtain knowledge about volunteers’ conceptions of developing intercultural communication competence in an intercultural learning context in East Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteers both face-to-face and virtually on the Internet. The material was processed according to the second order perspective in a phenomenographic research approach. Based on the volunteer’s conceptions three qualitatively different categories of description emerged illustrating that development of ICC is promoted by intercultural encounters wherefore intercultural and socio-cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration. The theoretical framing constitutes the base for the interpretation of the result and is discussed further in relation to previous research in the area of ICC. The volunteers’ conception of the phenomenon reveals that the development of ICC occurs through interaction and is a life-long learning process influenced consciously and unconsciously by experience, personal development and communicative skills.