Laura -- I have been thinking about this question since you posted it.  I don't think that it is possible to teach empathy directly.  It is something that develops from experience. But as Adel said, empathy is very relevant to Intercultural Communication.  

I think that LACK of empathy comes from seeing someone else as being different and not understanding why they are the way they are.  The better we get to know a group that is different and understand them, the more we will see their perspective and empathize with them.

So I think that teachers need to find ways to provide their students with positive experiences interacting with people who are different, such as native language speakers.

I had an experience once that I may someday write as a case study for an academic journal.  I led a study abroad trip to Asia.  We spent eight weeks in Taiwan, which is Chinese culture, but somewhat westernized.  My students came to understand and value Chinese culture.  Then we went into Mainland China for two weeks, and were joined by several additional people (faculty and staff) from our home school.  These new people did not have the cultural understanding and were sarcastic and dismissive of things my students had come to value.  It was a very enlightening contrast of attitudes.

Thanks Adel and Michael for the insightful comments. I agree with you on how important is to reaise awareness of cultural differences and I may also say, awareness on the commonness as well. This is what I wrote not long ago on the issue and I am thinking of doing some research and write about it.

copied text: I would carry out research on the lack of empathy towards creatures in general. Why is it that some teachers, some students, people in general, do not / are afraid of 'showing' empathy towards each other. Teachers pass on content knowledge about topics with a clear impact on society, they use internet with the students, they use social networks. What for? Just to share projects? What if we make learners aware of the realities outside the class? What if we make them participate in NGO's of their interest? What if we make them aware of the cruelty towrads humans and animals in some 'cultural' rituals some societies sadly keep today?

The solution to today's bleeding souls would be to wake up and take action. Commitment, care and and empathy in our teaching will graviate positively in our learners.

Hi Adel, I clearly understand how you feel. That is why, and as I see our profession as a generous deed, I'm determine to raise empathy into my students. 

I found an interesting page which I share with you and the ones following this post:

All the best,

Laura

http://cultureofempathy.com/Projects/Interviews/2010-12-08-AHIMSA/docs/EmpathyPowerPoint.ppt

Empathy is the basic starting point for the establishment of all other virtues. The Golden Rule illustrates this and is found in most religions. Those who do not have empathy for others are capable of doing all manner of wrong to others -- sociopaths and psychopaths do not have empathy, but are totally self-focussed. Stories of others that include much emotional language, movies of people living in different environments, songs portraying other's points of view, followed by discussion and vocabulary building of emotional words, all are ways to begin the process of teaching empathy. However, the most powerful for adolescents and adults is service learning; there is nothing like meeting and talking to those that are different than ourselves for building empathy leading to a deeper understanding.

Thanks David for this deep contribution.