Exploring intercultural competence: A comparative study on the perceptions of pre-service English teachers in Istanbul

Acar E., Önen S.

AELTE 3rd International Conference, Amasya, Türkiye, 18 - 19 Ekim 2024, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Amasya
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Intercultural competence is a critical ability in today’s increasingly globalized world, as it refers to the capacity to promote effective communication and understanding among people from different cultural backgrounds. It is recognized as an essential tool for navigating diverse cultural contexts. It is key not only to facilitating successful communication but also to promoting mutual respect and appreciation for different perspectives in global society. Although it is an important component of teacher education, previous research on the topic is limited, as little research has investigated the intercultural competencies of pre-service English teachers. Through a quantitative approach, this study aims to examine pre-service English teachers’ perceptions of intercultural competence and compare their competence levels to determine whether significant differences exist across grade levels. The scope of the research covers critical dimensions of intercultural competence, including intercultural awareness, interpersonal competence, and communicative effectiveness. Data were collected from a total of 80 freshman and senior Turkish EFL pre-service teachers through a structured 21-item Likert-type scale developed and modified by Arasaratnam et al. (2010). Based on participants’ responses, their intercultural competence levels in relation to their intercultural and intracultural experiences were examined. The results showed that senior EFL pre-service teachers noticeably surpassed freshmen, demonstrating higher levels of intercultural competence.

Keywords: Intercultural competence, Cross- cultural Communication, Pre-service English Teachers.