Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence in Local ELT

Foreword

This monograph is the result of an empirical investigation that sought to explore the relations between language and culture within language teaching and learning in Slovakia. The aim of the research project conducted within research scheme VEGA 1/0106/15 is based on theoretical insights into and empirical verification of the concept of intercultural communicative competence in the Slovak educational system. Therefore, our research focuses on the analysis of language curricula, selected target language course books and language teachers’ perceptions of intercultural communicative competence teaching.

In our research project, culture and its relation to language was analysed in two conceptual frameworks: one related to defining and teaching cultural aspects of target communities and another referring to language itself. Different ways of language teaching view teaching target culture(s) differently. As the Slovak national educational programme reflects changes in modern societies, the national curricula in target languages are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) (Council of Europe, 2001). The CEFR model of language use based on an action-oriented approach enables language learners to develop communicative language competence encompassing intercultural communicative competence.

The curricula analysis enabled us to discover some discrepancies between particular CEFR levels, officially claimed in the documents, and specific examples provided at different reference levels in all sections, mainly in the intercultural dimension section. The analysis reveals that the national curricula do not enable their users to get a clear distinction between cultural competence and intercultural competence. The investigation regarding language course books gives rise to many interesting questions in view of the fact that an analysis revealed inconsistency in presenting cultural aspects in a variety of course books and a vague notion of the concept regarding the development of intercultural communicative competence. On the other hand, authentic materials represented by contemporary literary prose might be considered a good resource for culture understanding as well as for learning a target language in its natural and appropriate form, acceptable by target culture representatives.

I highly appreciate co-operation with my colleagues who participated in project implementation, namely assoc. prof. Jana Bírová from the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava, assoc. prof. Fabiano Gritti from the Faculty of Arts, Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra and Dr. Xenia Liashuk from the Faculty of Education, Trnava University in Trnava, whose experiences in teaching French, Italian and German, respectively, enriched my perception of language teachers’ awareness of the intercultural dimension of target language teaching and learning and the extent into which different language course books focus on presenting cultural aspects and facilitate language learners to develop their intercultural communicative competence.

The world is becoming more and more interconnected due to the intertwindness and interdependence of political, economic and social networks. Communication is very much part of each cultural group, and culture regulates human behaviour and identity in a number of ways. In this monograph, culture and communication are viewed within the language learning framework. Apart from learning a target language, based on learning to listen, speak, read and write, it is important to enable learners to learn to understand, to feel and behave in new ways. The focus on culture in target language learning and teaching encourages language learners to potentially transform themselves and the world around them. Intercultural language teaching and learning enables language learners to enrich their perception of the world and to view the world in its integrity. The rich diversity of human cultures can be understood predominantly through language learning. For example, the current consensus is that English as a lingua franca serves as a medium for understanding different cultures since it enables communication between non-native speakers from different cultural backgrounds. It has broadened its previous, narrowly-defined concept, in which English was viewed as a means of communication between native speakers and non-native speakers.

In Europe, the idea of international understanding through the learning of languages, history and cultures of other countries is promoted by the Council of Europe. A Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) promotes language learning as discovery about other cultures and hence acquisition of perspective about learners’ own culture (North, 2014). The learners’ ability to transfer skills and knowledge from one language to another encourages them to think of their plurilingual profile in a multicultural society.