Chapter 12: “Inside People Are All The Same”: A Narrative Study of an Intercultural Project With UAE and U.S. Preservice Teachers

In the 21st century it is vital to develop teacher candidates who know how to communicate with children and families from different cultures and countries in order to build classroom communities where all children have equal chances to succeed in school and in a global society (Banks, 2010; Gay, 2010; Major, 2005). Although some may question the customs, religions, and values of others, living in this era requires that educators become more accepting of “beliefs, worldviews, values, and behaviors of people from other cultures” (McDaniel, Samovar, & Porter, 2009, p. 16). Being open to the cultures of others is especially important for teachers in countries with multicultural and multiethnic populations, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States.