Intercultural awareness: modelling an understanding of cultures in intercultural communication through English as a lingua franca

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Baker
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Intercultural Awareness

scholarly journals Culture and complexity through English as a lingua franca: rethinking competences and pedagogy in ELT

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Baker
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Language Pedagogy ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Meaningful Category

AbstractEnglish as a lingua franca (ELF) research highlights the complexity and fluidity of culture in intercultural communication through English. ELF users draw on, construct, and move between global, national, and local orientations towards cultural characterisations. Thus, the relationship between language and culture is best approached as situated and emergent. However, this has challenged previous representations of culture, particularly those centred predominantly on nation states, which are prevalent in English language teaching (ELT) practices and the associated conceptions of communicative and intercultural communicative competence. Two key questions which are then brought to the fore are: how are we to best understand such multifarious characterisations of culture in intercultural communication through ELF and what implications, if any, does this have for ELT and the teaching of culture in language teaching? In relation to the first question, this paper will discuss how complexity theory offers a framework for understanding culture as a constantly changing but nonetheless meaningful category in ELF research, whilst avoiding essentialism and reductionism. This underpins the response to the second question, whereby any formulations of intercultural competence offered as an aim in language pedagogy must also eschew these simplistic and essentialist cultural characterisations. Furthermore, the manner of simplification prevalent in approaches to culture in the ELT language classroom will be critically questioned. It will be argued that such simplification easily leads into essentialist representations of language and culture in ELT and an over representation of “Anglophone cultures.” The paper will conclude with a number of suggestions and examples for how such complex understandings of culture and language through ELF can be meaningfully incorporated into pedagogic practice.

Chinese Netizens’ reactions to the use of English as a lingua franca

English Today ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Weihong Wang ◽  
Fan (Gabriel) Fang
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
World Englishes ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
Linguistic Capital ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Global English ◽  
Local Varieties ◽  
British English ◽  
Linguistic Imperialism ◽  
The World

With the spread of English around the globe, academics increasingly seek to figure out what global English means to the world. Some accept English globalisation as a reality and take it as natural, neutral and beneficial for international and intercultural communication (Crystal, 2003). Some recognise English skills as important linguistic capital and must-have global literacy (Park & Wee, 2012; Tsui & Tollefson, 2007). However, others associate the global expansion of English with linguistic imperialism and the death of indigenous languages (Phillipson, 2009). Some regard globally spread English as native English varieties, particularly American and British English (Modiano, 2001; Trudgill, 1999), others argue for the rise of local varieties of World Englishes (WE) (Bolton, 2005; Kachru, 1986) and the international use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) (Jenkins, 2007; Seidlhofer, 2011). Although these generic interpretations of English have solid arguments from their own perspectives, none is sufficient to elucidate all the ‘complexity of ideological ramifications of the spread of English in [any] particular locality’ (Pan, 2011: 79).

scholarly journals DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS IN THE EFL CLASSROOM

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (65) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Lili Cavalheiro
Keyword(s):  
Student Teachers ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
International Role

<span lang="EN-US">Throughout multiples regions around the world, waves of migrants and refugees search for better and safer living conditions. As a result, classrooms are becoming increasingly multicultural and multilingual, with many teachers feeling challenged when faced with this ‘new’ reality. Being English the most commonly shared language around the world, the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom can be a ‘safe’ place where dialogue and intercultural communication are fomented. Not only can it facilitate the integration of migrant/refugee students, but it can also contribute to expanding learners’ (inter)cultural awareness and knowledge of how English may be used by multiple speakers (native and non-native) in diverse settings. In light of this, it is imperative that educators develop more inclusive English-language lessons that help break down barriers and taboos, in terms of language and culture. In order to achieve this, however, it is vital that these issues be developed at the beginning of any teacher training. Bearing this in mind, this paper begins by presenting the concept of English as a Lingua Franca and intercultural communication and follows up by reflecting upon how the traditional EFL classroom should to be reconsidered in light of today’s international role of English. Taking into account the specific growing multicultural/multilingual Portuguese context, the last section of this paper presents how these issues are developed in two pre-service MA programs in English Language Teaching at the University of Lisbon, and also how student teachers have integrated ELF-related activities/resources in their practicum, along with a commentary on their learners’ reactions.</span>

Decision Making Process in Intercultural Communication

2019 ◽  
pp. 300-334
Author(s):  
Emıne Nılufer Pembecıoglu ◽  
Hatıce Irmaklı
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Media Literacy ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Different Cultures

The society we live in and the culture we're surrounded by all have an impact on our decision-making processes requiring that media literacy skills start flourishing during the early years. Globalization changed the dynamics of the world and society by removing any limitations of time and space. Thus, different cultures and values encounter one another, which is why media literacy and intercultural awareness are becoming the key skills in today's world. This chapter aims to analyze the stages, reasons, and the choices of the decision-making process of individuals from different cultural backgrounds in an intercultural communication setting where they were given certain problems for which they were expected to find solutions in a limited amount of time. The chapter mainly discusses the notion of “tolerance” and “judgement”: how one positions her/himself in an intercultural environment and how s/he approaches a problem with the awareness of cultural differences.

scholarly journals Views and Attitudes of Intercultural Awareness in Chinese Teaching and Learning in Shanxi Provincial Universities Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junqing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Overseas Students ◽  
Positive Learning Environment ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Chinese Teaching

The perceptions of academic staffs and overseas students to the significance of intercultural awareness in Chinese teaching/learning as foreign language were studied to provide suggestions for enhancing their intercultural communication competence in the context of Shanxi Provincial universities. The participants of 273 students and 52 staffs took part in the questionnaire and 25 of them accepted semi-structured interview. The combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis indicated a significant correlation between intercultural experience, length of Chinese teaching/learning and the enthusiasm in target language involved programs, regardless of age or gender. The attitudes to cultural diversity, misunderstanding even conflicts unavoidably existed in these universities influenced target language and culture mastery. This study suggested the promotion of intercultural awareness among staffs as well as students was important to help international students take advantage of opportunities available at campus or beyond to improve their effective intercultural communication. And much more intercultural strategies, including more positive learning environment, appropriated curriculum, further exploration, concentrated on improving target language proficiency and extending cultural experience in Chinese classes should be implemented to motivate students’ intercultural enthusiasm and competence.

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