Research Article
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Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives and Practices

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 6, 268 - 285, 01.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.17275/per.22.139.9.6

Abstract

Thanks to technological advances, migration, and globalization, English has become the language of internationalization. Therefore, many schools prioritized learning English to ensure and sustain international communication. However, in order to communicate well with individuals all around the world, bestowing English language learners with intercultural competence is also required in the teaching and learning of English. In Türkiye, one of the countries that host many immigrants, the experiences of foreign language teachers regarding intercultural issues might provide many insights into intercultural language learning and teaching. Therefore, this study aimed to expose EFL state schoolteachers’ perceptions and practices regarding intercultural language teaching and having foreign students in their classrooms. The methods that teachers adopted to promote intercultural competence in their classes were also explored. The semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 English language teachers in middle and high schools in Türkiye. For data analysis, the computer program MAXQDA was benefited to categorize the codes and reveal the common themes. The findings revealed certain teacher practices that might contribute to students’ intercultural competence development and challenges experienced during that process. It can be concluded that teachers are in need of professional guidance and resources to further develop their learners’ intercultural competence.

Supporting Institution

TUBITAK

Thanks

This study is a revised and enhanced version of a part of the first author’s Ph.D. thesis completed under the supervision of the second author. This work was supported financially by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) since the first author was a bursar of this institute during her Ph.D. program. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Çiler Hatipoğlu and Asst. Prof. Dr. Tijen Akşit for their invaluable feedback and support during the conduct of the study.

References

  • Atay, D. Çamlıbel, Z., Ersin P., Kaşlıoğlu, Ö., & Kurt, G. (2009). Turkish EFL teachers’ opinions on intercultural approach in foreign language education. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1611-1616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.283
  • Baker, W., & Fang, F. (2020). ‘So maybe I’m a global citizen’: developing intercultural citizenship in English medium education. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2020.1748045
  • Bayyurt, Y. (2006). Non-native English language teachers’ perspective on culture in English as a Foreign Language classrooms. Teacher Development, 10(2), 233-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530600773366
  • Borg, S. (2003). Teacher cognition in language teaching: A review of research on what language teachers think, know, believe, and do. Language Teaching, 36(2), 81-109. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444803001903
  • Brunsmeier, S. (2016). Primary teachers’ knowledge when initiating intercultural communicative competence. TESOL Quarterly, 51(1), 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.327
  • Busse, V., & Krause, U. M. (2016). Instructional methods and languages in class: A comparison of two teaching approaches and two teaching languages in the field of intercultural learning. Learning and Instruction, 42, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2016.01.006
  • Byram, M., Gribkova, B., & Starkey, H. (2002). Developing the Intercultural Dimension in Language Teaching: A Practical Introduction for Teachers, Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
  • Cansever, Z. M. & Mede, E. (2016). Perceptions of native and non-native EFL instructors in relation to intercultural foreign language teaching. Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi (Journal of Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Education), 16(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2016.16.1-5000182912
  • Davidson, R., & Liu, Y. (2020). Reaching the world outside: cultural representation and perceptions of global citizenship in Japanese elementary school English textbooks. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 33(1), 32-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2018.1560460
  • Demircioğlu, Ş., & Çakır, C. (2015). Intercultural competence of English language teachers in International Baccalaureate World Schools in Turkey and abroad. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 11(1), 15-32.
  • Diaz, A. (2013). Intercultural understanding and professional learning through critical engagement. Babel, 48(1), 12-19.
  • Elena, S. (2014). The ‘intercultural’ teacher- a new response to the teaching career. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 128, 111-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.127
  • Fantini, A. E. (2012). Language: an essential component of intercultural communicative competence. In J. Jackson (Ed), The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, (pp. 263-292). London: Routledge.
  • Gay, G. (2013). Teaching to and through cultural diversity. Curriculum Inquiry, 43(1), 48-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/curi.12002
  • Gedik Bal, N. (2020a). Intercultural sensitivity of EFL learners at a state university, Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, 10(2), 1-19.
  • Gedik Bal, N. (2020b). Students' and instructors' evaluation of a foreign language textbook from an intercultural perspective. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 16(4), 2024-2139. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.851032
  • Gong, Y., Hui, X., & Lai, C. (2018). Chinese as a second language teachers’ cognition in teaching intercultural communicative competence. System, 78, 224-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.09.009
  • Hammer, M. R. (2015). Intercultural competence development. In J.M. Bennett (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Intercultural Competence (pp. 483-486). The United States of America: Sage.
  • Han, X., & Song, L. (2011). Teacher cognition of intercultural communicative competence in the Chinese ELT context. Intercultural Communication Studies, 20(1), 175-192.
  • Kahraman, A. (2016). Teachers’ and learners’ attitudes towards culture and culture learning in a Turkish context. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 01-12.
  • Kelly, M. (2012). Second language teacher education. In J.Jackson (Ed), The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, (pp.409-421). London: Routledge.
  • Kılıç, S. (2013). English lecturers’ beliefs regarding intercultural competence. Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi (Journal of the Hasan Ali Yücel Faculty of Education), 20(2), 47-59.
  • Kramsch, C. (2009). Cultural perspectives on language learning and teaching. In K. Knapp, B. Seidlhofer & H. Widdowson (Eds), Handbook of foreign language communication and learning (pp. 219-245). Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110214246.2.219
  • Kuru-Gönen, S. I., & Sağlam, S. (2012). Teaching culture in the FL classroom: teachers’ perspectives. International Journal of Global Education, 1(3), 26-46.
  • Larzén‐Östermark, E. (2008). The intercultural dimension in EFL‐teaching: a study of conceptions among Finland‐Swedish comprehensive school teachers. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 52(5), 527-547. http://doi.org/10.1080/00313830802346405
  • Liddicoat, A. J. (2011). Language teaching and learning from an intercultural perspective. In E. Hinkel, (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning, II (pp. 837-855). Newyork, NY: Routledge.
  • Marczak, M. (2013). Communication and information technology in (intercultural) language teaching. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Nugent, K. & Catalano, T. (2015). Critical cultural awareness in the foreign language classroom. NECTFL Review, 75, 15-30.
  • OECD (2018). Preparing Our Youth For An Inclusive And Sustainable World The OECD PISA Global Competence Framework
  • Orange, J., & Smith. L.F. (2018). Language teacher cognitions and intercultural language teaching: The New Zealand perspective. Language Teaching Research, 22(3), 310 –329.
  • Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal, 20(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7
  • Porto, M., Houghton, S. A., & Byram, M. (2018). Intercultural citizenship in the (foreign) language classroom. Language Teaching Research, 22(5), 484–498. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168817718580
  • Robatjazi, M. A. (2008). Language education: Intercultural communicative competence and curriculum. Glossa, 3(2), 245-265.
  • Schulz, R. A. (2007). The challenge of assessing cultural understanding in the context of foreign language instruction. Foreign Language Annals, 40(1), 9-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2007.tb02851.x
  • Sercu, L. (2005). Teaching foreign languages in an intercultural world. In L. Sercu et al. (Ed.), Foreign Language Teachers And Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation (pp.1-18). Bristol: Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853598456
  • UNHCR (2019). The United Nation Refugee Agency Figures at a Glance, https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 6, 268 - 285, 01.11.2022
https://doi.org/10.17275/per.22.139.9.6

Abstract

References

  • Atay, D. Çamlıbel, Z., Ersin P., Kaşlıoğlu, Ö., & Kurt, G. (2009). Turkish EFL teachers’ opinions on intercultural approach in foreign language education. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1611-1616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.283
  • Baker, W., & Fang, F. (2020). ‘So maybe I’m a global citizen’: developing intercultural citizenship in English medium education. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2020.1748045
  • Bayyurt, Y. (2006). Non-native English language teachers’ perspective on culture in English as a Foreign Language classrooms. Teacher Development, 10(2), 233-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530600773366
  • Borg, S. (2003). Teacher cognition in language teaching: A review of research on what language teachers think, know, believe, and do. Language Teaching, 36(2), 81-109. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444803001903
  • Brunsmeier, S. (2016). Primary teachers’ knowledge when initiating intercultural communicative competence. TESOL Quarterly, 51(1), 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.327
  • Busse, V., & Krause, U. M. (2016). Instructional methods and languages in class: A comparison of two teaching approaches and two teaching languages in the field of intercultural learning. Learning and Instruction, 42, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2016.01.006
  • Byram, M., Gribkova, B., & Starkey, H. (2002). Developing the Intercultural Dimension in Language Teaching: A Practical Introduction for Teachers, Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
  • Cansever, Z. M. & Mede, E. (2016). Perceptions of native and non-native EFL instructors in relation to intercultural foreign language teaching. Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi (Journal of Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Education), 16(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2016.16.1-5000182912
  • Davidson, R., & Liu, Y. (2020). Reaching the world outside: cultural representation and perceptions of global citizenship in Japanese elementary school English textbooks. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 33(1), 32-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2018.1560460
  • Demircioğlu, Ş., & Çakır, C. (2015). Intercultural competence of English language teachers in International Baccalaureate World Schools in Turkey and abroad. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 11(1), 15-32.
  • Diaz, A. (2013). Intercultural understanding and professional learning through critical engagement. Babel, 48(1), 12-19.
  • Elena, S. (2014). The ‘intercultural’ teacher- a new response to the teaching career. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 128, 111-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.127
  • Fantini, A. E. (2012). Language: an essential component of intercultural communicative competence. In J. Jackson (Ed), The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, (pp. 263-292). London: Routledge.
  • Gay, G. (2013). Teaching to and through cultural diversity. Curriculum Inquiry, 43(1), 48-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/curi.12002
  • Gedik Bal, N. (2020a). Intercultural sensitivity of EFL learners at a state university, Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, 10(2), 1-19.
  • Gedik Bal, N. (2020b). Students' and instructors' evaluation of a foreign language textbook from an intercultural perspective. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 16(4), 2024-2139. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.851032
  • Gong, Y., Hui, X., & Lai, C. (2018). Chinese as a second language teachers’ cognition in teaching intercultural communicative competence. System, 78, 224-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.09.009
  • Hammer, M. R. (2015). Intercultural competence development. In J.M. Bennett (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Intercultural Competence (pp. 483-486). The United States of America: Sage.
  • Han, X., & Song, L. (2011). Teacher cognition of intercultural communicative competence in the Chinese ELT context. Intercultural Communication Studies, 20(1), 175-192.
  • Kahraman, A. (2016). Teachers’ and learners’ attitudes towards culture and culture learning in a Turkish context. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 12(2), 01-12.
  • Kelly, M. (2012). Second language teacher education. In J.Jackson (Ed), The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, (pp.409-421). London: Routledge.
  • Kılıç, S. (2013). English lecturers’ beliefs regarding intercultural competence. Hasan Ali Yücel Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi (Journal of the Hasan Ali Yücel Faculty of Education), 20(2), 47-59.
  • Kramsch, C. (2009). Cultural perspectives on language learning and teaching. In K. Knapp, B. Seidlhofer & H. Widdowson (Eds), Handbook of foreign language communication and learning (pp. 219-245). Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110214246.2.219
  • Kuru-Gönen, S. I., & Sağlam, S. (2012). Teaching culture in the FL classroom: teachers’ perspectives. International Journal of Global Education, 1(3), 26-46.
  • Larzén‐Östermark, E. (2008). The intercultural dimension in EFL‐teaching: a study of conceptions among Finland‐Swedish comprehensive school teachers. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 52(5), 527-547. http://doi.org/10.1080/00313830802346405
  • Liddicoat, A. J. (2011). Language teaching and learning from an intercultural perspective. In E. Hinkel, (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning, II (pp. 837-855). Newyork, NY: Routledge.
  • Marczak, M. (2013). Communication and information technology in (intercultural) language teaching. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Nugent, K. & Catalano, T. (2015). Critical cultural awareness in the foreign language classroom. NECTFL Review, 75, 15-30.
  • OECD (2018). Preparing Our Youth For An Inclusive And Sustainable World The OECD PISA Global Competence Framework
  • Orange, J., & Smith. L.F. (2018). Language teacher cognitions and intercultural language teaching: The New Zealand perspective. Language Teaching Research, 22(3), 310 –329.
  • Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal, 20(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7
  • Porto, M., Houghton, S. A., & Byram, M. (2018). Intercultural citizenship in the (foreign) language classroom. Language Teaching Research, 22(5), 484–498. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168817718580
  • Robatjazi, M. A. (2008). Language education: Intercultural communicative competence and curriculum. Glossa, 3(2), 245-265.
  • Schulz, R. A. (2007). The challenge of assessing cultural understanding in the context of foreign language instruction. Foreign Language Annals, 40(1), 9-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2007.tb02851.x
  • Sercu, L. (2005). Teaching foreign languages in an intercultural world. In L. Sercu et al. (Ed.), Foreign Language Teachers And Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation (pp.1-18). Bristol: Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853598456
  • UNHCR (2019). The United Nation Refugee Agency Figures at a Glance, https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Other Fields of Education
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Nur Gedik Bal 0000-0001-6115-137X

Perihan Savas 0000-0001-9839-3081

Publication Date November 1, 2022
Acceptance Date July 29, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 9 Issue: 6

Cite

APA Gedik Bal, N., & Savas, P. (2022). Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives and Practices. Participatory Educational Research, 9(6), 268-285. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.22.139.9.6