scholarly journals Predicting Effects of Demographic, Linguistic and Psychological Variables on University International Students’ Intercultural Communication Sensitivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Meihua Liu
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire ◽  
Intercultural Interactions

With globalization, intercultural communication plays an increasingly more important role in various fields, including business, transportation and education. It is the same with intercultural sensitivity (IS), a critical component of intercultural communication. Though much research has been done on IS, little can be found on effects of demographic, linguistic and psychological factors on learners’ IS simultaneously in the same context. Little research can be found on IS in learners of languages other than English either. For these reasons, the present study investigated the predicting effects of linguistic, psychological and demographic variables on university international students’ intercultural communication sensitivity when immersed in the Chinese culture. One hundred and sixty-seven international students studying in a Chinese university in Beijing answered the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, the Willingness-to-Communicate in Chinese Scale as well as the Demographic Questionnaire, and self-rated their proficiency in Chinese. Analyses of the data revealed the following main findings: (1) the participants were generally (fairly) sensitive, confident, attentive and enjoyable in intercultural interactions and respected cultural differences when communicating with people from the Chinese culture, (2) interaction engagement, interaction confidence, and overall intercultural communication sensitivity were significantly positively related to the participants’ ability to effectively communicate with people from the Chinese culture; interaction engagement was also significantly correlated with the participants’ openness to the Chinese culture, and (3) ability to effectively communicate with people from the Chinese culture and use of Chinese were powerful positive predictors for intercultural communication sensitivity. These findings imply that intercultural communication sensitivity is closely related to learners’ linguistic, psychological and demographic variables. Based on these findings, some implications were discussed.

Effect of GI and Glogster on Improving the Intercultural Communication Skills in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 576-604
Author(s):  
Ghada M. Awada ◽  
Hassan B. Diab ◽  
Kawthar H. Faour
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Experimental Group

The study reports the effect of group investigation (GI) cooperative learning method and the Glogster online poster on improving the intercultural communication skills of international students (n=54) of eight different countries. The study is premised on the proposition that the integration of GI and Glogster in classrooms consisting of Lebanese and non-Lebanese students could be effective in improving the intercultural communication skills of international students and enhancing their perceptions of intercultural communication. The study employed the mixed methods pretest-posttest control group experimental design whereby six Interactions Among Civilizations intact classes were randomly assigned to control and experimental conditions. Employing the intercultural sensitivity scale yielded findings indicating the significance of the GI and Glogster in developing the cultural adaptability and intercultural sensitivity of the experimental group participants (n=25) whereas the control group participants (n=28) did not show similar improvement.

scholarly journals L2 Motivation, Demographic Variables, and Chinese Proficiency among Adult Learners of Chinese

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-131
Author(s):  
Meihua Liu
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
L2 Motivation ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire ◽  
Ideal L2 Self ◽  
And Gender

The present research explored L2 motivation, demographic variables and Chinese proficiency among adult learners of Chinese as a second language. A total of 83 international students studying in a Chinese university in Beijing answered the 54-item L2MSS questionnaire and a Demographic Questionnaire. Analyses of the data revealed the following findings: a) the L2MSS scales were significantly highly related to one another and highly reliable, b) ideal L2 self was significantly correlated with gender and the number of foreign languages learned (NFLL); integrativeness was significantly positively related to NFLL, c) the whole sample, as well as male and female participants, scored high on all L2MSS scales and had (great) motivation to study Chinese, d) female respondents held significantly more favorable perceptions of their ideal selves than their male peers, and e) L2SSM had no predictive effect or interactive effect with demographic variables on the students’ Chinese proficiency. Nevertheless, length of stay in China and gender proved to be powerful positive predictors for the latter. Evidently, the L2MSS scales are important dimensions of L2 motivation and closely related to second/foreign language learning. Understandably, it is necessary to continuously explore, understand and enhance students’ L2 motivation.

scholarly journals Anxiety and Stress in In-service Chinese University Teachers of Arts

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Meihua Liu ◽  
Yan Yi
Keyword(s):  
Middle School Teachers ◽  
Teacher Stress ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire ◽  
Teaching Anxiety ◽  
Professional Title ◽  
Teacher Stress Inventory ◽  
Great Stress

As revealed by literature, anxiety and stress are complicated yet serious issues among teachers at all educational levels. Though widely studied, research on them often focuses on pre-service or primary and middle school teachers, with little research on in-service university teachers. It is especially so in China. The present study thus examined anxiety, stress and their relations with demographic variables in in-service university teachers in China. 256 teachers from various universities in China answered the Demographic Questionnaire, the Teaching Anxiety Scale and the Teacher Stress Inventory. Analyses of the data revealed the following main findings: (1) the participants were under great stress, but they were generally not so anxious about teaching, (2) teaching anxiety was generally significantly negatively correlated with age, professional title and years of teaching, while teacher stress was significantly negatively related to professional title, and (3) overall teacher stress, professional title and age were powerful predictors for teaching anxiety, while years of teaching, overall teaching anxiety and its subscales were powerful predictors for teacher stress. Based on these findings, some implications are discussed.

Effect of GI and Glogster on Improving the Intercultural Communication Skills in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
pp. 130-158
Author(s):  
Ghada M. Awada ◽  
Hassan B. Diab ◽  
Kawthar H. Faour
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Experimental Group

The study reports the effect of group investigation (GI) cooperative learning method and the Glogster online poster on improving the intercultural communication skills of international students (n=54) of eight different countries. The study is premised on the proposition that the integration of GI and Glogster in classrooms consisting of Lebanese and non-Lebanese students could be effective in improving the intercultural communication skills of international students and enhancing their perceptions of intercultural communication. The study employed the mixed methods pretest-posttest control group experimental design whereby six Interactions Among Civilizations intact classes were randomly assigned to control and experimental conditions. Employing the intercultural sensitivity scale yielded findings indicating the significance of the GI and Glogster in developing the cultural adaptability and intercultural sensitivity of the experimental group participants (n=25) whereas the control group participants (n=28) did not show similar improvement.

scholarly journals Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Intercultural Sensitivity of Students in a Chinese University

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (05) ◽  
pp. 5948-5953
Author(s):  
Myo Thandar Cho ◽  
Ulwiyyah
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
International Students ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
English Version ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and intercultural sensitivity of international students and chinese students in a university of china. A total 233 students participated. 122 students were chinese and 111 students were international students. English version of wong and law emotional intelligence scale (wleis), and chen and starosta’s (2000) intercultural sensitivity scale (iss) were directly used to measure the emotional intelligence and intercultural sensitivity of international students while they were translated into chinese for chinese students. The results showed that there were no significant differences in emotional intelligence and intercultural sensitivity based on gender, foreign experience and length of stay in china. International students were significantly higher in both emotional intelligence and intercultural sensitivity than chinese students after controlling for age differences and educational level. Emotional intelligence was positively correlated with intercultural sensitivity and it had 52.5% predictive ability on intercultural sensitivity.

scholarly journals International Students' Intercultural Sensitivity and Intercultural Communication Competence in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
IMRAN SSEMUDDU
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Communication Competence ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Intercultural Communication Competence ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Uncertainty Management Theory

<div> <div> <div> <p> </p><div> <div> <div> <p> </p><div> <div> <div> <p>This study is set out to understand intercultural communication competence and sensitivity among International students in Malaysia. In the discipline of communication, intercultural communication competence (ICC) has been a subject of study for more than five decades. Over this time, many have identified a number of variables that contribute to intercultural communication (ICC). This paper examines significant relationship between international students’ intercultural communication competence and their intercultural sensitivity as per their everyday situations in Malaysia. Anxiety uncertainty management theory is applied to the study to explain the relationship between intercultural communication competence and intercultural sensitivity among international students studying in Malaysia. Gudykunst (2005) described seven factors that envisage a person’s uncertainty and anxiety levels while communicating with unfamiliar persons: motivation to interact with strangers, self-concept, reactions to strangers, social categorization of strangers, situational processes, ethical interactions and connections with strangers. These help reduce other people’s anxiety as well as their uncertainty. The study employed a quantitative research design using the survey method where a self-administered questionnaire was employed and respondents were recruited using non-random sampling to generate the data. 300 international students from international Islamic university Malaysia (IIUM) who have studies in Malaysia for over a year participated in the study. Findings show, that there is a significant relationship between students with intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence. The study recommends, that further research should be done to examine whether a single mediating factor such as change in anxiety and uncertainty can affect the level of intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence. The theory is also supported in the study.</p><p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals Negotiation of identities in intercultural communication

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Janík
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Group Membership ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Cultural Identities ◽  
Cultural Group ◽  
Identity Component ◽  
Intercultural Interactions ◽  
Principal Identity

Abstract Negotiation of identities in communication entails affirming the identities we want others to recognize in us and ascription of identities we mutually assign to each other in communication. The study of intercultural communication focuses on cultural identity as the principal identity component that defines intercultural communication. In this article, the assumption that cultural group membership factors determine the context of intercultural communication is questioned. The article examines how intercultural interlocutors negotiate their identities in various intercultural interactions. The aims of the research presented in this paper are: 1) to examine which identities - cultural, personal, or social - intercultural interlocutors activate in intercultural communication; 2) to determine whether interlocutors’ intercultural communication is largely influenced by their cultural identities; 3) and to identify situations in which they activate their cultural identities (3). The research data were collected from 263 international students studying at Masaryk University in Brno in the years 2010 - 2016. Although the research results are not conclusive, they indicate that cultural identities predominate in the students’ ethnocentric views and that stereotypes constrain the students’ cultural identities and affect the negotiation of identities in intercultural communication.

scholarly journals International Students' Intercultural Sensitivity and Intercultural Communication Competence in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
IMRAN SSEMUDDU
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Communication Competence ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Intercultural Communication Competence ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Uncertainty Management Theory

<div> <div> <div> <p> </p><div> <div> <div> <p> </p><div> <div> <div> <p>This study is set out to understand intercultural communication competence and sensitivity among International students in Malaysia. In the discipline of communication, intercultural communication competence (ICC) has been a subject of study for more than five decades. Over this time, many have identified a number of variables that contribute to intercultural communication (ICC). This paper examines significant relationship between international students’ intercultural communication competence and their intercultural sensitivity as per their everyday situations in Malaysia. Anxiety uncertainty management theory is applied to the study to explain the relationship between intercultural communication competence and intercultural sensitivity among international students studying in Malaysia. Gudykunst (2005) described seven factors that envisage a person’s uncertainty and anxiety levels while communicating with unfamiliar persons: motivation to interact with strangers, self-concept, reactions to strangers, social categorization of strangers, situational processes, ethical interactions and connections with strangers. These help reduce other people’s anxiety as well as their uncertainty. The study employed a quantitative research design using the survey method where a self-administered questionnaire was employed and respondents were recruited using non-random sampling to generate the data. 300 international students from international Islamic university Malaysia (IIUM) who have studies in Malaysia for over a year participated in the study. Findings show, that there is a significant relationship between students with intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence. The study recommends, that further research should be done to examine whether a single mediating factor such as change in anxiety and uncertainty can affect the level of intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence. The theory is also supported in the study.</p><p> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Predictors of puberty-related health behaviors among girl adolescents in Chahar Mahal Bakhtiari

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakhshanderou Sakineh ◽  
Ghaffari Mohtasham ◽  
Ramezankhani Ali ◽  
Gholami Dastenaee Leila
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
The Face ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude

AbstractIntroductionIt is important to recognize the various dimensions of puberty and planning for the education of adolescents and their parents who are on the verge of this course. The present study aimed to investigate predictors of puberty health behavior in adolescent girls.Materials & MethodsThis correlational study was carried out on 280 female students from the eighth and ninth grades of high school who were selected by multi-stage random sampling method. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was assessed using the face and content validity method (Panel view of the experts) and its reliability was tested by test-retest and internal consistency. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 16 using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression at a significant level less than 0.05.ResultsRegression results with stepwise analysis showed that demographic variables other than the age of students (p = 0.031) had no effect on the adoption of puberty health behaviors, but their students’ knowledge and their attitude were good predictors of behaviors Health is puberty. Among the underlying and psychological variables, was the strongest prediction (Beta = 0.48). Attitude with knowledge and age was 34.9% of variance for explaining puberty health behaviors in adolescents.ConclusionConsidering the power of predictors such as knowledge and attitude, it is possible to develop puberty health behaviors by increasing knowledge of students and providing correct and appropriate information to them and improving attitudes.

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