Egyptian university education majors' views on the culture of dialogue : An ethnographic study

This study aimed at exploring the concept and importance of the culture of dialogue, and the barriers to it. It also attempted to identifying the main theoretical approaches to interpreting the culture of dialogue, and investigating the nature of the argumentative relationship of education with the culture of dialogue and the possibility of changing the society in light of the views of education critical philosophers such as Paulo Freire. The study discussed all these issues in light of the ‏ tradition view of education, which is based memorization and oppression, and identified the most important university environment elements supporting the culture of dialogue, and the realities of such culture in the faculties of education at Egyptian universities as viewed by education majors. The study used the critical method in reviewing literature and Ethnographic method and deep interview with the students in the target context . The study revealed a number of results, including: a) the lack of fostering the culture of dialogue in the faculties of education at Egyptian universities; b) these faculties could assume their responsibilities in developing and enhancing prospective teachers' understanding of the culture of dialogue through activating specific elements in their education system– such as faculty member, curricula, student activities, and university administration– along with reshaping the student teacher education programme in a way avoiding memorization and allowing students' dialogical culture, critical thinking and creativity. The study ended with proposing a framework for fostering Egyptian university education majors' understanding of the culture of dialogue. The study explains the ‏philosophy, principles, objectives, procedures and tools of implementing the framework.