Abstract:
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In light of the growing volume of communication between people from
different cultural backgrounds around the globe at present, this mixed methods study
aims to investigate how Thai learners and teachers of English understand and perceive
the role of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in their English language
learning and teaching, respectively.
Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 150 Thai learners and 16
Thai teachers of English at one private university in Thailand. The quantitative data,
collected via questionnaires, were analyzed through descriptive statistics while the
qualitative data, collected via focus group and semi-structured interviews, were
analyzed through a constant comparative method. Then, the findings from quantitative
and qualitative data were triangulated together in order to provide the most
comprehensive perceptions of these two groups of participants toward the issue of
ICC and other related issues.
The findings revealed that these learners and teachers had a positive
perception of ICC and perceived it as an ability that individuals need when
communicating with people from other cultures. In terms of its roles, the learners and
teachers perceived that ICC could potentially be integrated into the English language
classrooms and could help enhance learners‟ English communicative competence, but
to a certain extent only. This latter perception implies that ICC is significant, but it
does not have a direct impact on learners‟ English communicative skills.
The findings also suggested that English language teacher educators and
material developers incorporate intercultural dimensions into English education
programs and learning materials, respectively, so as to enhance the success of ICC
integration into EFL classrooms. Additionally, to facilitate a smooth integration of
ICC into EFL classrooms in the context of this study, ICC should be integrated as a
supplementary element, not the main focus, of English courses, and it should be
integrated to raise learners‟ awareness of ICC‟s crucial roles in global communication
today, not for assessment purposes.
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