scholarly journals The Role of Intercultural Communication Competence in Iranian EFL Learners' Demotivation: An Examination of the Predicting Causes

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1230
Author(s):  
Shabnam Kurosh ◽  
Davud Kuhi

Preparing effective language learners who are ready to engage with speakers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds and to become internationally competent is a significant and challenging task. It is expected that language teaching programs need to provide the opportunity for learners to develop intercultural competency and learner beliefs through raising awareness about intercultural differences. Therefore, the instructional experience is prerequisite in preparing learners to become aware and supporter of the cross-cultural issues that can either facilitate or hinder learners’ achievement. This study intends to explore the relationship between intercultural competence of the learners and their experienced degree of demotivation as expressed by them at the university level. Intercultural competence was operationalized as a multidimensional notion comprising the communication effectiveness, adaptation, social integration, knowledge of the target culture, and language competence. Findings of regression analysis highlighted that only the social integration and adaptation components could predict the degree of demotivation. Additionally, the correlation results revealed a strong relationship between the language competence and communication effectiveness components of intercultural competence. According to the obtained findings, the possible clarifications for the contribution of intercultural competence components to the demotivation of learners were elaborated.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Anna Riana Suryanti Tambunan ◽  
Fauziah Khairani Lubis ◽  
Widya Andayani ◽  
Winda Setia Sari

The lack of intercultural communication skills will likely cause disharmony, misunderstanding, and even conflict in communication. To be successful in communication with native speakers depends on language skills, customs, and cultural knowledge. In the age of global communication, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching goals should be reoriented to cultivate intercultural communication competence (ICC). EFL learners should have this intercultural competence and be sensitive in order to avoid disharmony, misunderstandings, and even conflicts in communication. The main objective of this preliminary study is to reveal the levels of intercultural communicative competence among EFL students at a state university in Indonesia. A survey questionnaire was performed employing a quantitative analysis in this study. Eighty-nine students filled out the ICC questionnaire, which consisted of 20 questions. Findings indicated that most of the students had a low ICC level because they are lack of experience and knowledge in interacting and socializing with people from various cultural backgrounds. In terms of gender differences, the results showed that male students had higher levels of ICC than that female students. This research implied that intercultural topics should be included in the university’s curriculum.


Author(s):  
Akmal Khudaykulov ◽  
Alisher Doniyorov

There is a practical problem which this study will solve given that Uzbekistan is a country in which members of many ethnicities live. This article aims at identifying the Intercultural communication competence of Russian and Uzbek managers, team performance of a diverse team, and analyze how well these nations collaborate with each other. The main objective of this study is to explain the high team performance and intercultural communication competence. The data had been collected from various companies across Uzbekistan. Both online and paper questionnaires were distributed to Russian and Uzbek managers. Fundamental statistical procedures are applied to answer the questions of our research. Descriptive statistics, reliability and validity testing, regression modeling and other statistical indicators were used to validate our theory. The findings suggested that Russian and Uzbek managers do not differ significantly in their Intercultural communication competence. Overall intercultural competence score of Russian managers is insignificantly higher. Nonetheless, Uzbek respondents scored higher on the Interpersonal Skills dimension than Russian participants. Team performance of Uzbek managers is higher than Russian ones. Through regression analysis, an impact of Intercultural Communication Competence on Multicultural Team Performance has also been established. The mentioned studies have implications for the practice of Uzbek companies, and organizational theory, as such research has not been conducted on the sample of these nations. The study provides a knowledge foundation, and it will give us a specific insight into Uzbekistan working culture and relationships between different cultural backgrounds.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
Józef Jarosz

Abstract The contemporary teaching of foreign languages assumes the development of the ability to use a foreign language in different communication situations. Apart from language competence, also the cultural competence is developed as it is a necessary component of communication. A successful transfer of knowledge and language skills in the process of foreign language learning is determined by a textbook (in addition to other factors). The goal of this article is to analyze the content and assess three Danish textbooks, which were published in Germany in the years 2008-2010. The textbooks are examined in terms of knowledge about Danish life and institutions, the transfer of intercultural competence and the presence of stereotypes. The textbooks were studied based on the list of criteria and it resulted in stating that the textbooks fulfill the objective of providing the knowledge about the country to a great degree. The intercultural component and the issue of stereotypes are dealt with in a different manner.


2012 ◽  
pp. 753-768
Author(s):  
Pi-Chi Han

Globalization has increased the need to understand the nature of work-related adult learning and development across national boundaries. It is driving the demand for the workforce that possesses knowledge of other countries and cultures and affecting those who are responsible for developing international learning activities. The author of this chapter calls for adult education and Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals to learn how to apply adult learning theories in cross-cultural learning to help individuals with different cultural backgrounds. This would help these professionals acquire intercultural competence and become successful in international assignments.


Author(s):  
Josué Llull ◽  
Alfredo Palacios ◽  
Seija Ulkuniemi

This chapter is intended to show how the use of ICT and the application of collaborative learning can enhance language acquisition in bilingual contexts. The authors want to share the conclusions of an international project conducted over three years by two European universities of education. This project focused on reflecting about the interaction between university students and cultural heritage. To do this, students were asked to create an artistic poster of any heritage element from the cities where the two universities are located. Then, they had to upload their creation to a blog and comment on other students' work, using English as a vehicular language. Among the principal outcomes, the participants were satisfied with learning about cultural issues from a different country and with discovering new things about their own heritage. They also accepted the potential of visual art and cross-curricular work as a powerful tool to learn about culture and to practice their language skills.


Author(s):  
Kevin K.W. Ho ◽  
Eric W.K. See-To

This study is focused on the cross-cultural issues in the post-adoption phases of customer relationship management (CRM) for an international electronic marketplace, which operates in more than 30 countries. In particular, the authors focus on how the electronic marketplace modifies its interface redesign for addressing the different tastes of users from different cultural backgrounds. The authors hope this study can address to how cultural and language differences affect the interface redesign of CRM, which is part of the enterprise system, in the multinational and global context through a qualitative study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Sajjad Nawaz Khan ◽  
Siti Mariam Abdullah ◽  
Abdul Halim Busari ◽  
Muhammad Mubushar ◽  
Ikram Ullah Khan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of followership dimensions in the transformational leadership process by reversing the lens from the traditional leader-centric perspective to emerging followership perspective and examine the role of trust as a mediating variable in the proposed relationship. Design/methodology/approach Using quantitative method data were collected through a questionnaire from 506 respondents of the telecom sector in Pakistan. The proposed hypotheses were tested using SPSS V.23 and PROCESS V.3.1. Findings The results indicate that followership dimensions (active engagement and independent critical thinking) positively affect all the four constructs of transformational leadership (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration). Furthermore, trust in leadership partially mediates the direct relationship between followership dimensions and transformational leadership constructs. Research limitations/implications This study is conducted in a developing country context which limits its generalizability in other cultural backgrounds. Hence, further investigation could test the role of followership using different samples and methods. Practical implications Organizations need to pay more attention to followers’ development to produce better followership outcomes that will ultimately help establish strong relationships with transformational leaders and sustained positive outcomes. Originality/value This study empirically tests Shamir’s (2007) “reversing the lens” perspective and extends a distinct theoretical contribution to the social exchange theory that neither followers are passive participants, nor always on the receiving end of the relationship but they actively participate to establish a strong relationship with their leaders.


Author(s):  
Erika Zoeller Véras ◽  
Daniel Bicudo Véras

Each country has its own cultural backgrounds and standards of thinking, being and acting, and these cultural differences strongly influence the business world. The purpose of this paper is to present some cultural differences between countries highlighting the Brazilian and Chinese examples. Many are the cultural aspects within a society; therefore this paper will emphasize how these aspects can have an impact in business in both cultures, having as a background the basic cultural points of each country. Brazil and China will be analyzed through the Hofstede (2001) dimensions which measure cultural differences. This paper gives a short overview to provide an understanding on how cultural similarities and cultural differences are important when doing business in the mentioned countries. The authors propose that the more acquainted one is with a culture, the more successful his/ her business will become. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate which cultural issues have an impact when it comes to business.


1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
Tania N. Thomas-Presswood ◽  
Judith Sasso ◽  
Genevieve Gin

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-62
Author(s):  
Tama Lea Engelking

The development of intercultural competence and foreign language skills in study abroad and the FL classroom is often seen as an either/or proposition due to lack of time, training or the availability of materials in the target language. The Critical Incident method (CI) provides an example of an intercultural training tool that can link these competencies in ways that are developmentally appropriate for the FL and IC levels of the students. This method uses authentic intercultural mishaps to develop critical thinking skills as students reflect on the cultural values and attitudes underlying the experience. Drawing on research in study abroad FL pedagogy, this paper describes the CI method, provides a review of best practices in the context of study abroad, and develops an example of a CI from a study abroad program in France to illustrate how cultural incidents can be used to promote both intercultural and foreign language competence.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document