English Education Students' Experiences of Representing Cultural Identity through Food Sharing and Potluck
Keywords:
Cultural Identity, Traditional Food, Food Sharing, Potluck, English Education StudentsAbstract
Food is a key element in the expression of culture and one way to maintain cultural identity, particularly within highly multicultural contexts. Although many studies have examined the relationship between food and cultural identity, there has been little research on how students express their cultural identity through food-sharing experiences in higher education settings. Thus, this study explored how English education students represented cultural identity in food sharing and potluck experiences. The present study applied a qualitative narrative inquiry design to the experiences of three international students enrolled in a master's program in English Education at an Indonesian university. Participants were purposively sampled based on their habit of sharing traditional food from their home countries. Semi-structured WhatsApp interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings showed that sharing traditional food was a way for students to express and give meaning to their identity, convey cultural values and traditions, practice cultural heritage, and promote intercultural understanding. They also expressed pride in seeing their traditional food appreciated by others and saw sharing food as a means of bridging cultural gaps. Participants also expressed pride when others appreciated their traditional meals and identified food sharing as a channel to enhance social ties across diverse cultures. These results indicate potential for food-sharing activities as opportunities for cultural expression and intercultural learning in multicultural educational contexts.
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