INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE OF EFL LEARNERS

 

Saman Yousefifard

MA Student in ELT, University of Tehran, Saman.yousefifard@gmail.com

 

Abstract

With the growing advance in technology, particularly in communication technologies, the potential benefit of incorporating computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools into the design of syllabus has become the center of attention among second language researchers. There is a growing body of literature supporting the positive, practical impact of communication activities on the enhancement of learners’ level of oral proficiency in both synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC) and asynchronous computer-mediated communication (ACMC) settings. However, few studies have been conducted to address the potential effect of computer-mediated intercultural exchanges on intercultural communicative competence of English as foreign language learning (EFL) learners. This study aimed to investigate how synchronous CMC affects EFL learners’ interests in other cultures, willingness to communicate in intercultural interactions, and their openness to intercultural experience, all of which leading to the development of intercultural communicative competence. The results revealed that the level of interest of EFL leaners in learning about other cultures were relatively high, and their willingness to communicate was high too, and computer-mediated communication proved to be a reliable tool for expanding the level of intercultural knowledge of EFL learners. The pedagogical implications of the study highlight the essential need to engage EFL learners in out-of-class intercultural computer-mediated communication activities, and tasks as an effort to develop their intercultural communicative competence and cultural awareness.