Intercultural Competence

This book explores the idea of 'intercultural competence', which, despite its current popularity across various discourses, has remained a vague and oscillating concept. Interculture lacks a universal definition and 'competence' is not only a cognitive construct but also includes psychological traits such as attitudes, affective aspects and constructions of identity. The essays in this volume approach the complexity of the concept from a number of different angles. These include theoretical models for defining the concept of 'intercultural competence', outlining paths for future research; application of the concept in the teaching and learning of foreign languages, cultures and literatures; exploration of institutional and sociocultural influences on mediating intercultural competence; and analysis of the concept's impact on such diverse contexts as international business, religious constructs and notions of selfhood and identity. The volume develops a broad range of perspectives on intercultural competence, providing stimulating new ideas, reflections and models around this important concept.

Autorentext

Arnd Witte is Senior Lecturer in German and Head of Department at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland. He has published widely in the area of foreign language acquisition, particularly German as a Foreign Language. His specific research area is the acquisition of intercultural competence.
Theo Harden is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Second Language Studies at University College, Dublin, Ireland and Professor Adjunto at Universidade de Brasília, Brazil. He has published widely in the area of second language acquisition, particularly German as a Second Language. His research area is the acquisition of conceptual metaphors in a second language.

Inhalt

Contents: Arnd Witte/Theo Harden: Introduction - Michael Byram: A Research Agenda for 'Intercultural Competence' - Darla K. Deardorff: Intercultural Competence in Foreign Language Classrooms: A Framework and Implications for Educators - Werner Müller-Pelzer: Intercultural Competence: A Phenomenological Approach - Theo Harden: The Perception of Competence: A History of a Peculiar Development of Concepts - Arnd Witte: On the Teachability and Learnability of Intercultural Competence: Developing Facets of the 'Inter' - Gillian Peiser: Does the Revised English MFL Curriculum Give Us Reasons to be Optimistic about Fostering Intercultural Understanding Amongst Key Stage 3 Language Learners? - Clarisse Costa Afonso: Intercultural Competence: A Major Issue in Foreign Language Teacher Training? - Claudia Borghetti: How to Teach It? Proposal for a Methodological Model of Intercultural Competence - Mary Georgiou: Can One Swallow Make the Summer? Teaching Intercultural Competence in an English Writing Course - Undine S. Weber/Rebecca Domingo: Adding Another Colour to the Rainbow: An Attempt at Imparting German Cultural Competence in a South African University Context - Heidi Zojer: Teaching 'Intercultural Competence' to 'Generation X' - Annelies Roskvist/Deborah Corder/Sharon Harvey/Karen Stacey: Developing Language Teacher Capability Through Immersion Programmes and the Impact on Student Language Learning, Cultural Knowledge and Intercultural Competence - Joke Simons/Yunsy Krols: Measuring Intercultural Competence - Heather Richards/Clare Conway/Annelies Roskvist/Sharon Harvey: A Framework for Analysing Observation Data: Language Teacher Provision of Opportunities for Learners to Develop Intercultural Competence - Kristin Brogan/Muiris Ó Laoire: Intercultural Learning in the Study Abroad Context - Sabrina Mallon-Gerland: An ILP Investigation of Disagreement Politeness Strategies Performed by German Working Professionals (GWP) - Lisa Stiefel: Learner Identity Construction, Intercultural Competence and Study Abroad - Théophile Ambadiang/Isabel García Parejo: Interculturality, Linguistic Culture and Alterity: A Further Look into Intercultural Competence - Áine Furlong/Fionnuala Kennedy: Towards the Development of Awareness in Intercultural Communicative Competence: A Tandem Exchange Experience - Thomas Johnen: What Can Cross-Cultural Conversation Transcript Analysis Contribute to the Development of Intercultural Competence? - Margit Krause-Ono/Sylvia Wächter: Culture? Communication? The Intercultural? A Comparative Study of Basic Concepts in ICC Education in Germany, Japan and the US - Marie Gervais: 'Eat ye, O people': The Role of Food, Religion and Hospitality in Intercultural Relations - Helen O'Sullivan/Gillian S. Martin/Breffni O'Rourke: The Irish are Too Polite: Analysing Stereotype and Identity Dynamics in Student WebChat - Rob Philburn: Aspects of English and German Sociable Selfhood - Marketa Goetz-Stankiewicz: Intercultural Competence: A Mirror for Literature? Some Thoughts on Václav Havel's Play Unveiling/Vernissage in Two Guises - Sieglinde Grimm: Empathy and Recognition: Two Concepts of Intercultural Learning in Literature Teaching with Rafik Schami's Fable The Sheep in Wolf's Clothing - Ana Gonçalves Matos: Current Readers and Intercultural Learning.