• فهرست مقالات Intercultural Communicative Competence

      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        1 - Exploring EFL teachers’ Intercultural competence and Intercultural sensitivity Level: The Story of Teachers’ Experience
        Sina Khalili Mohammad Mohammadi
        AbstractIntercultural communicative competence (ICC) and intercultural sensitivity (IS) have attracted the attention of a number of researchers in the field of foreign language teaching and learning. Like many other studies carried out by far, the present study tries to چکیده کامل
        AbstractIntercultural communicative competence (ICC) and intercultural sensitivity (IS) have attracted the attention of a number of researchers in the field of foreign language teaching and learning. Like many other studies carried out by far, the present study tries to explore EFL teachers’ (with short- and long-term teaching experiences) ICC (intercultural communicative competence) and IS (intercultural sensitivity) levels and measure them in practice through administering two questionnaires to discover Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions or beliefs in understanding ICC and intercultural sensitivity. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, via a quantitative and descriptive design; a sample of 170 EFL teachers with short (N=82)- and long-term teaching experiences (N=88) from different language institutes and high schools in West Azerbaijan province was selected to fill out the two ICC and IS questionnaires. The results of quantitative data analysis showed that both groups of Iranian EFL teachers paid special attention to ICC and IS. It also turned out that the two groups of teachers (with short term teaching experience and long-term teaching experience) were not significantly different in terms of ICC and IS levels. To put it another way, though all EFL teachers were aware of the concepts of ICC and IS and their importance in their teaching practices, they paid attention to the concept of culture. The pedagogical implications of the study are discussed. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        2 - Construction of Intercultural Savoirs Through Interculturally-laden Tasks: An Iranian Experience
        داود کوهی سیده زهرا اسماعیلی ثریا بهروزی زاد
        A long-standing concern reverberating over the minds of intercultural scholars is how best to incorporate intercultural issues in English language teaching, an issue on which there has been little research in EFL contexts. To fill this gap, this qualitative study examin چکیده کامل
        A long-standing concern reverberating over the minds of intercultural scholars is how best to incorporate intercultural issues in English language teaching, an issue on which there has been little research in EFL contexts. To fill this gap, this qualitative study examined the efficacy of interculturally-laden tasks in promoting Iranian learners’ intercultural competency in Anzali, Guilan province, Iran. Thus, a group of 22 Iranian intermediate EFL learners were recruited through convenience sampling from a pool of 44 according to their score on Oxford Quick Placement Test. All the participants were 12 females and 10 males aged 21-30. Then, they attended eighteen sessions of intercultural training using Mirrors and Windows: An intercultural communication textbook and completed seven intercultural tasks as a pretest and posttest. Data was collected through seven intercultural tasks and reflective worksheets. Drawing on the qualitative content analysis of intercultural tasks, the findings revealed that the tasks could help the participants increase their intercultural competence. Moreover, three themes were emerged from the analysis of the reflective worksheets as follow: (1) the participants’ evaluation of the ICC course and intercultural tasks, (2) perceptions regarding intercultural development and (3) language skills and anxiety. The implications and suggestions for further research are discussed. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        3 - Investigating the Iranian EFL Teacher's Perception of Critical Cultural Awareness
        مصطفی غفّاری داوود کوهی مرتضی اصل رسولی
        This study was an attempt to investigate the perception of Iranian senior high school teachers toward critical cultural awareness. The participants of the study comprised of 307 teachers in different high schools in Qazvin. All the participants filled in the Critical Cu چکیده کامل
        This study was an attempt to investigate the perception of Iranian senior high school teachers toward critical cultural awareness. The participants of the study comprised of 307 teachers in different high schools in Qazvin. All the participants filled in the Critical Cultural Awareness Questionnaire. The data were then fed into SPSS software and were subjected to Principal Components Analysis. Three factors were extracted and named as CCA in ELT Programs, CCA in ELT Textbooks and Materials, and CCA in General Terms, and the participants’ responses were analyzed based on these factors. The results indicated that the teachers’ critical awareness perception toward ELT Textbooks and Materials was the highest factor. The results of the item analysis revealed that teachers indicate all cultures should have an equal status in ELT textbooks and materials. It was concluded that the teachers’ cultural awareness regarding the integration of culture into mainstream teaching should be raised and they should pay more attention to culture in their classes. One significant implication of this study for EFL teachers and also syllabus designers is that an intercultural curriculum can enable learners to have a better understanding of the target materials. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        4 - In Pursuit of Intercultural Communicative Competence in EFL Context: Exploring Iranian English Teachers’ Perceptions
        موسی رضا بنفشه محدثه خسروی Mavadat Saidi
        The current study attempted to cast light on the status quo of Iranian EFL teachers' perceptions of ICC. It further attempted to see if their experience would influence their conceptualizations of ICC. To this end, a total of 100 EFL teachers were asked to complete a qu چکیده کامل
        The current study attempted to cast light on the status quo of Iranian EFL teachers' perceptions of ICC. It further attempted to see if their experience would influence their conceptualizations of ICC. To this end, a total of 100 EFL teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire survey adapted from Han & Song's (2011) study. The results of both quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed a number of commonalities and discrepancies among the participants' conceptualizations of International Communication Competence (ICC) and its relevance to ELT considering their teaching experience. The findings point to the prominence of intercultural teacher education in the Iranian context. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        5 - An Investigation of Iranians and International English Students'Attitudes towards Intercultural Communicative Competence
        علی اصغر پوراکبری حسین حیدری تبریزی عزیزه چالاک
        The present study aimed to investigate the attitudes and perceived nature of thinking and understanding towards intercultural communicative competence (ICC) among International English major students. Accordingly, this study employed the paradigm of a sequential mixed-m چکیده کامل
        The present study aimed to investigate the attitudes and perceived nature of thinking and understanding towards intercultural communicative competence (ICC) among International English major students. Accordingly, this study employed the paradigm of a sequential mixed-method research, in which it comprised a qualitative phase followed by a quantitative phase. The participants of the first phase of the study were 30 undergraduate English major students in their third year at Isfahan Islamic Azad University in Iran; and the participants of the second phase of the study included 30 international ESL students in their first year at Gonzaga University (GU), in Washington, U.S. The analysis of narratives in the first phase of the study indicated that the participants had diverse attitudes towards intercultural encounters. The results of the statistical analyses of the second phase of the study showed that the most important individual difference variables directly influencing students’ intercultural communicative competence were their communication apprehension and their perceived communicative competence. This study also showed that students’ self-image as communicators were of utmost importance: if students believe they are good communicators in English, theyare more likely to be self-confident and are more likely to take part in intercultural encounters. Thus, instructors should help students achieve a realistic self-image about their performance in English and support them if they lack self-confidence. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        6 - Critical Cultural Awareness in Iranian ELT Coursrbooksd: Coursebook Realizations and Ideals
        Mostafa Ghaffari داوود کوهی مرتضی اصل رسولی
        Numerous academics in the domains of language instruction, cultural studies, communication studies, ethnic studies, gender studies, etc. have focused on critical cultural awareness (CCA) as a crucial element of intercultural competency. Therefore, this study aimed to in چکیده کامل
        Numerous academics in the domains of language instruction, cultural studies, communication studies, ethnic studies, gender studies, etc. have focused on critical cultural awareness (CCA) as a crucial element of intercultural competency. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the cultural elements in Iranian high school coursebooks (Vision Series) have been (un)touched by the ministry of education. To this end, the conversation contents of the Vision Series (levels 1-3) were examined by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate possible intercultural competence used in Vision Series. It was found that the content was biased toward the source culture in general. Finally, some ideal ways of presenting culture in the coursebooks were put forward in the form of a cultural rubric. The pedagogical implications of this study are discussed. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        7 - Intercultural competence, Intercultural sensitivity, and Language Pedagogy: Perspectives of Iranian Novice and Experienced EFL Teachers
        Sina Khalili Mohammad Mohammadi
        Intercultural competence and intercultural sensitivity have drawn the attention of a myriad of scholars in the fields of language teaching, communication, culture, gender, and ethnicity. This is the rationale behind the current research aiming at investigating EFL teach چکیده کامل
        Intercultural competence and intercultural sensitivity have drawn the attention of a myriad of scholars in the fields of language teaching, communication, culture, gender, and ethnicity. This is the rationale behind the current research aiming at investigating EFL teachers’ beliefs concerning the concepts of intercultural communication competence (ICC) and intercultural sensitivity (IS) and how such concepts are promoted in their real practices in English classes. To this end, utilizing a qualitative design, a sample of 20 EFL teachers (11 experienced and 9 novice teachers) from different language institutes in West Azerbaijan province were selected. A semi-structured interview and a three-session observation were conducted as data-gathering tools. The results of the data analysis indicated that even though Iranian EFL teachers were familiar with the concepts of IS and ICC and they knew that language and culture are not isolated terms, they ignored culture in the classes due to some regularities imposed on them by society. As a matter of fact, for teachers, the concept of language is the top priority while culture plays a second fiddle. The study has some pedagogical implications for EFL teachers and learners in overcoming cultural differences to improve the level of language proficiency. پرونده مقاله
      • دسترسی آزاد مقاله

        8 - EFL Learners’ Intercultural Communicative Competence, Intercultural Contact, and Personality Traits: A Structural Equation Modeling
        Behrouz Sarbakhshian Mahnaz Saeidi Touran Ahour
        Language learners continuously use Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) skills in EFL and ESL contexts but they have various personality traits and intercultural contacts (IC). This study attempted to investigate the relationships among learners’ personali چکیده کامل
        Language learners continuously use Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) skills in EFL and ESL contexts but they have various personality traits and intercultural contacts (IC). This study attempted to investigate the relationships among learners’ personality traits, IC, and ICC. To this end, the researchers administered three questionnaires of self-reported Big Five Inventory (BFI), IC, and ICC among 200 male and female Iranian EFL learners from various language schools in Tabriz, Iran. Structural equation modeling (SEM) measured the relationship among variables through SmartPLS3 software. The results demonstrated positive relationships among extraversion, openness, and agreeableness with direct and indirect IC. Their relationships with ICC were also significant and positive. Furthermore, the relationships between direct IC and indirect IC with ICC were significantly positive. However, the relationships between neuroticism and direct IC, indirect IC, and ICC were significantly negative. Moreover, although the relationships between conscientiousness and direct IC and indirect IC were significantly positive, its relation with ICC was insignificant. This study also clarifies the implication of the extracted pathways for ELT and presents some suggestions for future studies. پرونده مقاله