THE EFFECT OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE ON EFL LEARNERS’ PROFICIENCY

Abstract

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) has been an essential element in the world as the intercultural settings and the need for communication between the countries gain prominence. It has been a part of the language learning process due to the fact that language learning per se conveys the culture in it. This study investigates the cultural intelligence of the participants and the relationship between cultural intelligence and foreign language proficiency by using a correlational study. The research was conducted in the preparatory class at a state university. As the participants, 86 randomly selected students were incorporated. The Turkish version of the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CIS), which contains 20 items with 7-point Likert type, was used to analyze the participants’ cultural intelligence and the placement test scores which had been conducted at the beginning of the semester by the state university was utilized as the language proficiency indicator. According to the results, the study showed a significant positive correlation between participants’ CQ levels and their language proficiency levels. The study aimed to shed light on participants’ CQ levels and whether the CQ affects foreign language learning.

Keywords

• Correlational study
• Cultural intelligence
• Cultural intelligence scale
• CQ
• EFL Proficiency
• Language learning

References

1. Reference1 Canbay, F. (2020). The Relationship Between Cultural Intelligence And Language Learning Motivation. Journal on Educational Psychology. DOI: 10.26634/jpsy.13.4.17003 Reference2 Earley, P. C. (2002). Redefining interactions across cultures and organizations: Moving forward with cultural intelligence. Research in Organizational Behavior, 24, 271–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0191-3085(02)24008-3