International Journal of Practical and Pedagogical Issues in English Education

International Journal of Practical and Pedagogical Issues in English Education

Effective Strategies for Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence among Iranian Late Beginner Language Learners: A Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of English Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University, Urmia Branch, Urmia, Iran
Abstract
This study explores the realm of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) within the context of Iranian beginner language learners. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the ability to navigate cultural differences and engage in effective cross-cultural communication has grown in significance. The study adopts a qualitative approach, drawing upon a comprehensive case study that delves into the practical implementation and outcomes of selected pedagogical methods. Through a literature review, key theories in intercultural competence and second language acquisition are synthesized to guide the selection of pedagogical strategies. To address the research questions, the researcher employed diverse student evaluation materials, which were then juxtaposed against the benchmark for intercultural communication proficiency at the beginner level. In order to delve into the perceptions of cultural identity held by novice language learners, their perspectives on various cultures, and their comprehension of language's role, an analysis of interview responses was conducted by the researcher. Results indicated that the used strategies significantly enhance intercultural skills in late beginner language students, enabling better understanding and connection with diverse cultures. Another finding was that students exhibit diverse thoughts and feelings when encountering various cultures, highlighting the need for sensitive intercultural education. Finally, by fostering culturally sensitive and effective communicators, the researchers could contribute to a more inclusive and harmonious global community, one where diverse perspective are celebrated and understood. This case study serves 52 as a stepping stone towards achieving that vision, providing a roadmap for effective ICC instruction and inspiring further research into this critical domain of language education.
Keywords

Ali, M. M. (2015). Integration of ICT in ELT classrooms: Teachers’ perceptive. PUTAJ – Humanities and Social Sciences, 22(2), 29-46.
Ahmed, S. T. S., Qasem, B. T., & Pawar, S. V. (2019). Integrating culture into EFL teaching: A study of Yemeni EFL teachers' perceptions and actual Practices. Language in India19(4), 1-16.
Byram, M. & Wagner, M. (2018). Making a difference: Language teaching for intercultural and international dialogue. Foreign Language Annals, 51, 140-151.
Civelek, M., & Toplu, I. (2021). How Likely Is It to Teach Culture in EFL Courses? The Case of Private and State School Teachers in Turkey. European Journal of English Language Teaching6(3).
Çiftçi, E. Y. (2016). A review of research on intercultural learning through computer-based digital technologies. Educational Technology & Society, 19(2), 313–327.
Deardorff, D. K. (2011). Assessing intercultural competence. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2011(149), 65-79.
Euler, S. S. (2017). Utilizing the project method for teaching culture and intercultural competence. Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German, 50(1), 67-78.
Ghanem, C. (2017). Teaching intercultural communicative competence: The perspective of foreign language graduate student instructors. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 11(2), 1-9.
Ghavamnia, M. (2020). Iranian EFL teachers’ beliefs and perspectives on incorporating culture in EFL classes. Intercultural Education31(3), 314-329.
Glesne, C. (2016). Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction. (5th ed.). Pearson.
Kazykhankyzy, L. & Alagözlü, N. (2019). Developing and validating a scale to measure Turkish and Kazakhstani ELT pre-service teachers’ intercultural communicative competence. International Journal of Instruction, 12(1), 931-946.
Koutlaki, S. A. & Eslami, Z. R. (2018). Critical intercultural communication education: Cultural analysis and pedagogical applications. Intercultural Communication Education, 1(3), 100-109.
López-Rocha, S. (2016). Intercultural communicative competence: creating awareness and promoting skills in the language classroom. In C. Goria, O. Speicher, & S. Stollhans (Eds.), Innovative language teaching and learning at university: enhancing participation and collaboration (pp. 105-111).
Masterson, M. (2015). Self-discovery through the experiential co-construction of life stories in the foreign language classroom. Journal of Experiential Education, 41(4), 341-355.
Serna Dimas, H. M. (2016). Integrating the intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in a foreign language program: Faculty considerations upon leaving the haven of native speakership. English Language Teaching, 9(4), 1-10.
Snodin, N. S. (2015). Rethinking culture teaching in English language programmes in Thailand. RELC Journal, 47(3), 387-398.
Taskiran, A. (2019). Telle-collaboration: Fostering foreign language learning at a distance. European Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 22(2), 87-97.
Volume 2, Issue 1
Winter 2024
Pages 48-60

  • Receive Date 25 January 2024
  • Revise Date 11 February 2024
  • Accept Date 20 February 2024