The Role of Intercultural Communication Competence in Iranian EFL Learners' Demotivation: An Examination of the Predicting Causes

Abstract

Preparing effective language learners who are ready to engage with speakers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds and to become internationally competent is a significant and challenging task. It is expected that language teaching programs need to provide the opportunity for learners to develop intercultural competency and learner beliefs through raising awareness about intercultural differences. Therefore, the instructional experience is prerequisite in preparing learners to become aware and supporter of the cross-cultural issues that can either facilitate or hinder learners’ achievement. This study intends to explore the relationship between intercultural competence of the learners and their experienced degree of demotivation as expressed by them at the university level. Intercultural competence was operationalized as a multidimensional notion comprising the communication effectiveness, adaptation, social integration, knowledge of the target culture, and language competence. Findings of regression analysis highlighted that only the social integration and adaptation components could predict the degree of demotivation. Additionally, the correlation results revealed a strong relationship between the language competence and communication effectiveness components of intercultural competence. According to the obtained findings, the possible clarifications for the contribution of intercultural competence components to the demotivation of learners were elaborated.

Role of Resistance to Innovation, Lack of Intercultural Communication, and Student Interest on the Student Demotivation Results Towards the English Education System

“…The students approach these linguistic institutions and result in getting demotivated. Thus, the student's demotivation gets affected by intercultural communication and affects the country's education system due to weak performance (Badrkoohi, 2018;Kurosh and Kuhi, 2018). In the presence of literature, the student's demotivation can be employed as a mediator as supported by the literature (Zhang et al, 2020;Sun et al, 2021).…”

'I Didn't Anticipate the Weather, So I Borrowed My Friend's White Cloak': Emotional Geography of Efl Students Taking Iisma (Indonesian International Mobility Awards) Exchange Program

“…studies have been conducted regarding international students' exchange programs. Those studies deal with students' cultural experiences during international programs (Apriliyanti et al, 2021;Baklashova & Kazakov, 2016;Kurosh & Kuhi, 2018;Sudarwati et al, 2022); stereotypes students face during international programs (Bonazzo & Wong, 2007;Heng, 2016;Ruble & Zhang, 2013); the effort in preparing exchange program candidates (Hartati & Riniati, 2022); challenges students face during exchange programs (Bin Basri, 2015;Chirikov & Soria, 2020;Crawford Camiciottoli, 2010;Mahmud et al, 2010;Mbous et al, 2022); students adaptation (Budiarti et al, 2022;Wu et al, 2015); international students' attitude (Yin & Zong, 2022;Zhai et al, 2022); the effects upon returning from international program (Jonkers & Cruz-Castro, 2013); benefits of exchange program (Abdullah et al, 2014;Chiteng Kot, 2014;Green & Mertova, 2014;Markova et al, 2016). Despite the increasing number of discussions about international students and exchange programs, there seems to be little study conducted in the area discussing the students' emotional geography of students while pursuing their studies abroad.…”

The Assessment of Intercultural Competence in Iranian EFL and Non-EFL Leaners: Knowledge, skill, awareness, and attitude

“…There is no specific study investigating the perspectives of students towards intercultural competence in foreign language learning at the high school level and the challenges that needed to be addressed in relation to this area in the future. Therefore, there is an opportunity for this study to contribute to the field (Banafsheh et al, 2013;Burns;Kurosh & Kuhi, 2018).…”