The Other As a Source of Knowledge and a Reference Point for the Learning Adult

Autor

  • Jerzy Semków Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna im. Janusza Korczaka w Warszawie Janusz Korczak Pedagogical University in Warsaw Wydział Nauk Społeczno-Pedagogicznych w Katowicach ul. Katowicka 27, 40-173 Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3618-1857

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20191.39.47

Słowa kluczowe:

the Other, learning adult, learner, migration

Abstrakt

Aim. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of adult learning by way of communicating with the representatives of other nations, cultures, and religions.

Methods. The method used in the paper consists in the analysis of scholarly opinions wherein authors point out at the role of the Other human being in the process of our getting to know the world (from childhood: parents, neighbours – to the older age: people from different nations and cultures). The theory of learning introduced by Albert Bandura and Joanna Rutkowiak is utilized as a theoretical background.

Results. The relation with the other can take many forms and fulfil different, albeit important in terms of education and functions. The other is a person who in numerous life situations becomes a source of knowledge for the learning adult, at the same time playing a role of a specific reference point. The recognition of the value of such resources acquires special meaning in the current situation wherein one can observe the emergence of attitudes of xenophobia and chauvinism. Moreover, learning through intercultural interactions can be seen as an effective way of gaining knowledge about the world of rapid changes.

Conclusions. The paper concludes with the following questions:

  1. To what extent does the rising atmosphere of intolerance impoverish the cognitive sphere of the adult learner?
  2. In what way does the lack of acceptance of the Other destroy the field of sensitivity of the adult person?
  3. What are the prospects – given the current socio-political climate in Poland – and what kind of possibilities can be opened by the dialogical strategy of understanding Otherness?

 

 

Pobrania

Statystyki pobrań niedostępne.

Biogram autora

  • Jerzy Semków - Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna im. Janusza Korczaka w Warszawie Janusz Korczak Pedagogical University in Warsaw Wydział Nauk Społeczno-Pedagogicznych w Katowicach ul. Katowicka 27, 40-173 Katowice, Poland

    Associate and retired professor of the University of Wrocław. Presently, he works at Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna im. Janusza Korczaka in Warsaw. His research focuses on social gerontology and social pedagogy. He has so far published 131 works including 6 books. He has supervised 11 doctoral theses. He has performed several administrative functions from Head of School of Andragogy, to Director of the Institute of Pedagogy (UWr 1996-1999), to Dean of The Department of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences (UWr. 1990-1993). He was the initiator and head of the annual conference “Forum Pedagogów” (1988-2010), and the annual conference “Kolokwia Witeloniana held PWSZ in Legnica. At present, he heads the seminar “Jesienne Spotkania Andragogiczne”, held annually in Katowice.

Pobrania

Opublikowane

2019-06-30

Numer

Tom 10 Nr 1 (2019): Journal of Education Culture and Society

Dział

ETHICS

Licencja

CC-BY

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. All authors agree for publishing their email adresses, affiliations and short bio statements with their articles during the submission process.

Jak cytować

Semków, J. (2019). The Other As a Source of Knowledge and a Reference Point for the Learning Adult. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 10(1), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs20191.39.47