Developing Intercultural Competence in a Third Space

From the perspective of the Third Space Theory(TST),this study explores eighteen international students’experiences and perceptions of their intercultural interactions on a university campus in Shanghai,the People’s Repulic of China(PRC).The study employs an open-ended questionnaire and two focus group interviews to collect qualitative data.The research findings reveal that participants make creative use of their third space to different degrees and in certain forms.Furthermore,the research findings identify several factors influencing their intercultural growth,including the lack of meaningful learning in intercultural interaction and students’discrepant motives.The conclusion supports the claim that to better improve international students’intercultural competence,it is of great importance for both students and faculty members to co-develop intercultural awareness and skills.