"Vietnamese efl teachers’views on the importance of Intercultural communicative competence for students: A case study at Vietnam National University, International School "

Abstract

This study explored Vietnamese EFL teachers' perceptions of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in the context of growing global communication among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The investigation focused on three aspects, namely teachers' understanding of ICC, their perspectives on integrating ICC into English language teaching, and their views on the contribution of ICC to the development of communicative competence in English learners. The study involved eleven EFL teachers working at a public university in Vietnam. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the questionnaire data, while the qualitative data underwent examination through a constant comparative method. The findings indicated that the participants had a basic understanding of ICC, yet their knowledge was limited. It was evident that ICC plays a significant role in enhancing students' communicative competence. Some teachers expressed difficulties in integrating ICC into their English teaching and highlighted the urge for training to effectively implement ICC. The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating ICC into teacher education programs to successfully integrate it into English language teaching practice.