Jul 2026· World Journal of English Language· 0 citations
Abstract
Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is increasingly recognized as a key competence in Chinese higher education, making it an essential component of global citizenship. Culture-based teaching is widely regarded as an important pathway for fostering ICC in College English education; however, research on its implementation and effectiveness remains limited. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 959 records were initially identified from Scopus, ERIC, and WOS. After screening and eligibility assessment, 15 studies published between 2021 and 2025 were included for analysis. The findings reveal that culture-based teaching approaches, such as culture comparison, task-based learning, and technology-enhanced practices (e.g. telecollaboration) play a positive role in promoting students’ intercultural awareness, communicative skills, and critical cultural reflection. However, these approaches are often constrained by four key challenges, including the marginalized ICC in curriculum design, limited teacher preparedness and practical guidance, learners’ low engagement and intercultural awareness, and insufficient technological support. In addition, the review highlights a predominance of quantitative and mixed-methods research designs, with a strong reliance on self-reported data and limited use of longitudinal and performance-based approaches. These findings provide practical implications for improving ICC-oriented teaching and suggest directions for future research.
The cultivation of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has become an increasingly important objective in language
education. The rapid global expansion of Chinese as a second language (CSL) education has highlighted a gap in research on how in-service
CSL teachers conceptualize and implement ICC teaching. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining an online survey of 108 CSL
teachers from seven universities in Tianjin, China alongside semi-structured interviews with eight in-service CSL teachers to further
examine their cognition and stated practices in teaching ICC. The findings indicate that while CSL teachers generally demonstrate a strong
foundation in Chinese cultural knowledge and hold positive attitudes toward ICC teaching, their pedagogical skills for integrating ICC are
less fully developed. A pronounced gap was detected between CSL teachers’ cognition and stated practices regarding ICC teaching, largely
constrained by rigid curriculum structures, linguistically-driven teaching materials, and limited instructional time. This study provides
context-sensitive empirical evidence from northern Chinese university settings. It also identifies a pattern that differs from prior
research: CSL teachers’ ICC teaching is primarily knowledge- and attitude-oriented rather than skills-oriented.
Jingyao Shi, Chenrui Miao, Wei Han· Chinese as a Second Language...· 0 citations
The 2022 edition of China’s Compulsory Education English Curriculum Standards identifies cultural awareness as a key part of core competencies, emphasizing its role in shaping student’ cross‑cultural understanding and value orientation. However, cultural awareness cultivation often stays on the surface in junior high English classrooms. This happens because of exam pressure, limited time, and unclear teaching guidance. This study focuses on the eighth-grade English textbook (PEP, Volume 2) and classroom observations at Shangrao Jingkai District Middle School. Its purpose is to find practical ways to develop cultural awareness. Through textbook analysis and case analysis of listening-speaking and reading lessons, the study identifies three main obstacles: monotonous teaching methods, limited time, and cultural content not used deeply enough. Based on these findings, the study proposes several strategies, including unit-wide cultural teaching, stronger cultural comparison, creative use of multimedia, and diversified evaluation. The results provide research-based references for junior high English teachers who want to bring cultural awareness into daily instruction.
Yi-Qi Zheng, Zhong-Qing Hu· Studies in English Language...· 0 citations
This study systematically reviews 36 recent research articles (2020–2024) on the development of critical thinking in teacher education for English as a foreign language. Although critical thinking is widely recognized as a core competency, recent studies remain fragmented regarding how it is conceptualized, taught, and assessed in English teacher education. This fragmentation makes an updated synthesis urgent amid recent pedagogical, intercultural, and digital transformations in teacher education. The PRISMA protocol was followed, and databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Redalyc were consulted, enabling an analysis of the geographical, methodological, theoretical, didactic, and contextual characteristics of the studies. Qualitative approaches predominate (61%), with a significant concentration in Asia (18 cases), followed by the Americas (8) and Europe (6). Among the theoretical frameworks identified, the cognitive approach (25%) and the sociocultural/sociocognitive approach (22%) stand out, highlighting the importance of connecting thinking with context and social interaction. Regarding didactic strategies, experiential learning (39.6%) is prominent, followed by critical or argumentative reflection (33.9%). However, major challenges remain: limited specialized training, curricular rigidity, and a persistent gap between theory and practice. The review maps recent trends, identifies persistent gaps, and offers pedagogical implications for strengthening critical thinking in English teacher education.
Nelson Rafael Toncel Herrera, Ángel Alfonso Jiménez Sierra· Frontiers in Education· 0 citations
Objective: Analyze how integrative cultural tasks can improve students’ intercultural awareness, digital competence, and understanding of the “world of English” in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries. Methods: A thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring perceptions and experiences regarding cultural learning and intercultural competence. Nine students from the BA Program in English Teaching were conveniently selected. They accomplished a cultural awareness project focused on researching an English-speaking community. Data were collected through students’ projects and semi-structured interviews. Findings: It was revealed that students developed a great awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity, improved motivation to learn English, and enhanced appreciation for foreign and Mexican cultures. Conclusion: Cultural competence should be integrated transversally throughout English Programs using authentic materials, technology, and intercultural projects that promote inclusion, empathy, critical thinking, and global communication skills.
Isaí Alí Guevara Bazán· Revista Iberoamericana de In...· 0 citations
This study examines the implementation of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in elementary school contexts to enhance students’ communicative competence. The study addresses the gap between theoretical assumptions of CLT and its practical application in classrooms, particularly within the Indonesian educational setting. The objective of this research is to analyze how CLT strategies are applied and to evaluate their impact on students’ speaking skills and classroom interaction. A qualitative research design was employed, involving classroom observations, interviews with teachers, and document analysis. The findings indicate that the use of communicative activities such as role play, group discussions, and interactive tasks significantly improves students’ confidence and ability to communicate in English. However, several challenges were identified, including limited teacher proficiency, lack of instructional resources, and constraints related to traditional teaching practices. The study concludes that CLT is an effective approach for promoting active learning and communicative competence in elementary education. Its successful implementation requires adequate teacher training and contextual adaptation. These findings contribute to the development of more effective language teaching practices in primary education.
Keywords: communicative competence; communicative language teaching; elementary education; speaking skills
This study analyzes ICC representation in the Global Success - Grade 11 English textbook, an official resource widely used in Vietnamese high schools. Drawing on Byram’s (1997) ICC framework, a systematic content analysis was conducted to examine all tasks across ten units, focusing on eight ICC dimensions. The findings reveal that despite improvements over earlier materials, the textbook prioritizes linguistic competence and intercultural knowledge over the comprehensive development of ICC. The cultural content mainly conveys factual information rather than promoting active engagement and meaningful intercultural interaction. Besides, critical cultural awareness and intercultural attitudes are underdeveloped. These findings point out a gap between educational policy and textbook development, thereby providing methodological and pedagogical recommendations for teachers using this textbook.
Thành Ha Cong, Giang Dang Ngan· Tạp chí Khoa học Ngoại ngữ· 0 citations