The nexus of intercultural communicative competence and speaking ability: A critical analysis

Subject Areas : Curriculum Design and Development

Leila Amiri Kordestani ¹ , Massood Yazdanimoghaddam ² , Parviz Maftoon ³

1 - Department of English, College of Literature, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Islamic Azad University, science and research Branch, Tehran Iran
2 - Department of English Language, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of English, College of Literature, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2024-07-13 Accepted : 2024-12-15 Published : 2024-12-20

Keywords: Foreign Language Learning, Intercultural Communicative Competence, Speaking Ability,

Abstract :

The relationship between intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and the speaking ability of language learners has been a focal point in foreign language education. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ICC and speaking ability as demonstrated by Iranian EFL learners in an online Advanced Communication course, as well as their perceptions of how it impacted their language learning needs and objectives. The research utilized an explanatory mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies for gathering and analyzing data. The testing group consisted of 154 undergraduate English language translation students, encompassing both male and female. Participants selected through convenience sampling. Data collection involved a homogeneity test, a speaking test evaluated by two raters, an ICC questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview. By employing Pearson Correlation and thematic analysis to analyze the data, the study unveiled a significant relationship between ICC and speaking ability, demonstrating potential benefits for both language learners and educators aiming to enhance linguistic and cultural speaking proficiency.

References:

Ahmed, A. (2023). Mapping the intersections of critical language awareness and affective approaches to second language writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 60, 100969. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2023.100969
Allen, L. (2008). Implementing a culture portfolio project within a constructivist paradigm. Foreign Language Annals, 37, 232-239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2004.tb02196.x
Almarza, G. G., Martínez, R. D., & Llavador, F. B. (2015). Profiling the intercultural communicative competence of university students at the beginning of their Erasmus placements. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 173, 43-47. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.028
Bachman, L. F. (2005). Building and supporting a case for test use. Language Assessment Quarterly: An International Journal, 2(1), 1-34.
Bae, J., & Bachman, L. F. (2010). An investigation of four writing traits and two tasks across two languages. Language Testing, 27(2), 213-234.
Bastos, M., & Araújo e Sá, H. (2015). Pathways to teacher education for intercultural communicative competence: Teachers’ perceptions. The Language Learning Journal, 43(2), 131-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2013.869940
Boye, S., & Byram, M. (2017). Language awareness and the acquisition of intercultural communicative competence. In The Routledge handbook of language awareness (pp. 435-449). Routledge.
Britton, E. R., & Lorimer Leonard, R. (2020). The social justice potential of critical reflection and critical language awareness pedagogies for L2 writers. Journal of Second Language Writing, 50, 100776. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2020.100776
Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence (Multilingual Matters). Multilingual Matters.
Byram, M. (2012). Language awareness and (critical) cultural awareness – relationships, comparisons and contrasts. Language Awareness, 21(1-2), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2011.639887
Cakır, I. (2006). Developing cultural awareness in foreign language teaching. . The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 7.
Chaya, P., & Inpin, B. (2020). Effects of integrating movie-based mobile learning instruction for enhancing Thai university students’ speaking skills and intercultural communicative competence. English Language Teaching, 13, 27. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v13n7p27
Choi, J., & Nunan, D. (2018). Language learning and activation in and beyond the classroom. Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1, 49-63. https://doi.org/10.29140/ajal.v1n2.34
Dooly, M., & Vallejo Rubinstein, C. (2018). Bridging across languages and cultures in everyday lives: An expanding role for critical intercultural communication. Language and Intercultural Communication, 18(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2017.1400508
Dörnyei, Z., & Taguchi, T. (2009). Questionnaires in second language research:
Construction, administration, and processing. Routledge.
Eren, Ö. (2023). Raising critical cultural awareness through telecollaboration: Insights for pre-service teacher education. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 36(3), 288-311. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2021.1916538
Estaji, M., & Rahimi, A. (2018). Exploring teachers’ perception of intercultural communicative competence and their practices for teaching culture in EFL classrooms. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 6(2), 1-18. https://www.ijscl.com/article_32636_feb6972c793f403e17ce65712c1c9163.pdf
Estaji, M., & Tabrizi, S. (2022). Teachers’ perceptions and strategies in the development of intercultural communicative competence: The case of international school teachers in Iran. Research in Comparative and International Education, 17(3), 528-545. https://doi.org/10.1177/17454999221077859
Fathi, J., Pawlak, M., Mehraein, S., Hosseini, H. M., & Derakhshesh, A. (2023). Foreign language enjoyment, ideal L2 self, and intercultural communicative competence as predictors of willingness to communicate among EFL learners. System, 115, 103067. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2023.103067
Fulcher, G., & Davidson, F. (2007). Language testing and assessment: An advanced resource book. Routledge.
George, D., & Mallery, P. (2019). IBM SPSS statistics 26 step by step: A simple guide and reference. Routledge.
Hang, Y., & Zhang, X. (2023). Intercultural competence developmental processes of university and college students as three types of transition – A systematic review. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 92, 101748. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2022.101748
Holme, R. (2010). Carrying a baby in the back: Teaching with an awareness of the cultural construction of language. Language Culture and Curriculum, 210-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908310208666645
Hua, Z. (2015). Research methods in intercultural communication: A practical guide. John Wiley & Sons.
Ismailov, M. (2021). Virtual exchanges in an inquiry-based learning environment: Effects on intra-cultural awareness and intercultural communicative competence. Cogent Education, 8(1), 1982601. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2021.1982601
Kambutu, J., & Nganga, L. W. (2008). In these uncertain times: Educators build cultural awareness through planned international experiences. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(4), 939-951. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2007.08.008
Lenkaitis, C. A., Hilliker, S. M., & Ouedraogo, B. (2020). Examining intercultural competence of L3 learners in higher education. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1, 100013. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100013
Liao, H., & Li, L. (2023). Facilitating EFL learners' intercultural competence through culturally responsive teaching in oral English classrooms. System, 115, 103070. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2023.103070
Lopez-Rocha, S. (2016). Intercultural communicative competence: Creating awareness and promoting skills in the language classroom. In (pp. 105-111). https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2016.000411
McCarthey, S. J., & Zhang, J. (2023). Revisiting teaching preparation and practices for writing in Singapore. Teaching and Teacher Education, 135, 104337. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104337
McIntosh, K., Connor, U., & Gokpinar-Shelton, E. (2017). What intercultural rhetoric can bring to EAP/ESP writing studies in an English as a lingua franca world. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 29, 12-20. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2017.09.001
Meshkat, M., & Birjandi, P. (2003). The cultural impact of EFL books on Iranian language learners. ROSHD FLT Journal, 17, 47-54.
Mirzaei, A., & Forouzandeh, F. (2013). Relationship between intercultural communicative competence and L2-learning motivation of Iranian EFL learners. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 42(3), 300-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2013.816867
Olaya, A., & Gómez Rodríguez, L. (2013). Exploring EFL Pre-Service Teachers' Experience with Cultural Content and Intercultural Communicative Competence at Three Colombian Universities. Profile Issues in Teachers` Professional Development, 15, 49-67.
Puspita Dewi, Y. (2023). Improving students' speaking ability in expressing opinion through think pair share: English. Journal of English Development, 3(01), 29-37. https://doi.org/10.25217/jed.v3i01.3078
Reimann, A. N. (2022). Raising cultural awareness as part of EFL teaching in Japan Macquarie University. https://figshare.mq.edu.au/articles/thesis/Raising_cultural_awareness_as_part_of_EFL_teaching_in_Japan/19435361
Riazi, A. M., & Candlin, C. N. (2014). Mixed-methods research in language teaching and learning: Opportunities, issues and challenges. Language Teaching, 47(2), 135-173. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444813000505
Shi, L., & Stickler, U. (2018). Interaction patterns in synchronous Chinese tutorials. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 12(1), 6-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2018.1418612
Simsek, M. R. (2014). Adapting a Turkish middle school textbook to develop cultural awareness. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152, 199-204. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.09.181
Symeou, L., & Karagiorgi, Y. (2018). Culturally aware but not yet ready to teach the “others”. Journal for Multicultural Education, 12(4), 314-329. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-02-2017-0012
Tseng, W. T., Dörnyei, Z., & Schmitt, N. (2006). A new approach to assessing strategic learning: The case of self-regulation in vocabulary acquisition. Applied linguistics, 27(1), 78-102.
Wei, Y., Spencer-Rodgers, J., Anderson, E., & Peng, K. (2021). The effects of a cross-cultural psychology course on perceived intercultural competence. Teaching of Psychology, 48(3), 221-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628320977273
Yeh, H.-C., & Lai, W.-Y. (2019). Speaking progress and meaning negotiation processes in synchronous online tutoring. System, 81, 179-191. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2019.01.001