Cross-Cultural Communication Dynamics as the Result of Participation in the Long-Term Exchange Program

This paper investigates the impact of a yearlong American exchange program on its Russian participants’ cross-cultural communication skills and personal development as well as questions if these changes that appeared during living abroad experience are permanent or they have a tendency to decrease after returning to “home” culture. As the evaluation of cross-cultural communication dynamics of long-term exchange program participants and alumni, quantitative self-assessments and Intercultural Development Inventory are used. The data received from this research compares Russian participants' involvement in American culture and shows the dynamic of the re-assimilation process after returning back from the exchange program between participants of the years 2016-2019. ANOVA regressions and multiple comparisons are used to evaluate self-assessments results of participant currently studying in the US in the frame of the exchange program, alumni of the program who have returned to Russia in the period from 1 to 3 years and the reference group of same age Russian students, who have never lived abroad. Received knowledge reflects on globalization pattern and helps to assess if the 10-11 months living abroad experience has the potential to be a part of mixing cultures process. Keywords: Cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural adaptability, exchange programs, globalization, international exchange students