高校西班牙语教学中“跨文化能力”的培养

?外国语言文学类教学质量国家标准?明确了“跨文化能力”在高校西班牙语教学的重要性。 本文从“跨文化能力”的背景,定义及现象着手,阐述其与西班牙语教学的关系,并探讨高校西班牙语教学中对学生“跨文化能力”的培养途径。

“跨文化能力”框架的确立——以欧盟INCA项目为例

欧盟INCA项目,源于英国科学、工程、制造技术协会(SEMTA)呼吁为年轻人提供适用于整合欧洲层面的跨文化培训课程,其目的在于促进青年的跨文化能力,提升其在整个欧洲范围内的竞争力,适应因不断深入的经济全球化而形成的跨文化工作和生存环境。该项目受到欧盟委员会达芬奇计划资助,来自全欧洲的十四个工业组织和研究机构参与其中。可用于评价的"跨文化能力"框架的确立是该项目的重要的成果之一,该框架将跨文化能力划分为"包容能力"、"认知能力"和"适应能力"三类能力,并将每一类能力的发展都划分为"基本能力"、"中级能力"和"充分能力"三个级别层次。对传统"跨文化能力"划分维度进行重新理解和再分类,重新确立"跨文化能力"的基本结构,并基于社会群体适应性的要求设计了进阶目标。该框架对"跨文化能力"的培养的课程设置和实践,提供了可参考的框架和方向,对于我国的跨文化能力结构研究和培养具有重要的启示意义。

The framework and cultivating modes of intercultural communication competence for business English majors in vocational colleges： Based on the study of vocational colleges in Guangxi

The teaching objective of vocational business English is not only to improve students＇ English language competence, but also to develop their intercultural communication competence. Based on an analysis of the outcome of a survey on cultivation of English majors＇ intercultural competence among vocational colleges in Guangxi, the paper aims at exploring the framework and cultivating modes of intercultural communication competence for business English majors in vocational colleges.

Multimedia approach to culture： Current situation and development in EFL

This thesis aims at providing an overview of the recent developments and reforms in the college English education. With the employment of multi-media teaching facilities, intercultural competence, i.e., the flexible adoption of the systems of value outlook and behavior mode of the target language, has indisputably been integrated into the second language learning and teaching curriculum. This thesis compares and analyzes the nature and composition of cultural cognition.

An investigational study of non-English majors＇ international communication competence and countermeasures

Based on the data collected from the questionnaires, this paper discusses various problems concerning intercultural communication competence the non-English majors at ＂high-leveled, applicationoriented＂ level faced in Shanghai Institute of Technology. Besides, it analyzes the necessity and feasibility in developing intercultural communication competence, and puts forward some constructive suggestions to enhance intercultural communication competence in adult English teaching.

China English and College Intercultural Education:A Cultural Linguistic Perspective

In the era of globalization,English as an international language(EIL) is also the medium of intercultural communication for the international community.Based on the theory of cultural linguistics(CL),which regards language as culture-oriented rather than structure-oriented,Sharifian(2009,p.4) has proposed that varieties of English which constitute EIL result from the interaction between the English language and different local cultures.CL suggests that China English(CE) should be understood in this light:It is not a substandard interlanguage,but a variety of English with its own cultural value and right.This paper intends to systemically analyze the nature of CE and its value in intercultural communication so as to better understand current intercultural education.Over a long time,much emphasis has been laid on the importance of adapting to the target language culture to the neglect of home language culture in our College English classrooms,thus resulting in what is known as Chinese cultural aphasia.In the light of CL,intercultural communication competence(ICC) encompasses not only knowing English and adapting to its culture,but also using CE to introduce the native culture in which CE plays an irreplaceable role.Therefore,CE is undoubtedly a key remedy for Chinese cultural aphasia.More research on CL should be conducted as it provides felicitous disciplinary guidance for our college intercultural education.

Integration of Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence

The launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in China calls for a paradigm shift in theory and practice of foreign language(FL)teaching from a communicative language teaching approach(CLT)to intercultural language teaching(ICLT),which treats intercultural communicative competence(ICC)as the core of FL education.Unfortunately,the College English Curriculum Requirements of China(CECR)does not specify the aspects for cultural teaching or assessment;nor does it provide any theoretical or practical guidance for teachers on how to teach or assess ICC.This leads to teachers’confusion about what should be taught and assessed and how,hence to a deficiency in real actions.In this paper,we first outline the learning outcomes of ICLT-oriented courses,the ICC components which respectively fall into the categories of intercultural attitude,knowledge and skills.By presenting the pedagogical practice of a cultural literacy course,we also demonstrate how FL teachers can help learners achieve these learning outcomes through a fivestage instruction process.Finally,we discuss how these learning outcomes can be assessed using formative and summative assessment tools,especially how ICC components can be incorporated into a comprehensive test of FL.

Using Social Media to Promote Intercultural Communication Between Chinese and American University Students

This paper reports a five-year computer-mediated intercultural exchange project between Chinese and American university students that explores the use of various social media tools with WeChat application as the main medium in collaborative intercultural assignments. The study combines quantitative and qualitative approaches by using questionnaires and action research, to investigate how Chinese EFL and American CFL learners increase their intercultural communication competence by assessing their knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and skills of discovery and awareness. The findings reveal their changes and progress in the following variables: knowledge about the variety and subtlety of both the home and target cultures, a different worldview, and cultural study methods;awareness of the importance of differences and similarities between the home and target cultures, their negative reactions to these differences(e.g., fear, ridicule, disgust, feeling of superiority, etc.) and therefore, critical evaluation of the target and home cultures;attitudes from excitement or blind admiration of the target culture to confusion, anxiety or frustration about the cultural differences, later to toleration and appreciation of cultural differences, adaptation to the target culture, and eventually to openness and readiness to suspend disbelief about other cultures and belief about one’s own;skills to contrast the target culture with their own, to demonstrate a capacity to interact appropriately in a variety of different social situations in the target culture and resolve cross-cultural conflicts and misunderstandings. This research will serve as a valuable reference for computer-mediated intercultural communication teaching and open up new possibilities to extend classroom teaching by bridging the gap between second-hand knowledge and hands-on experience.

An Investigation of Chinese Undergraduates’Ability to Translate Chinese Cultural Items into English and Predictors of Such Ability

College English teaching in China has long focused on importing cultures of English countries while neglecting to enhance students’English competence in home culture.The present research aims to investigate Chinese non-English major undergraduates’competence in translating Chinese cultural items into English and the significant predictors of such competence.With a test and a questionnaire as research instruments,this study was conducted to assess 82 undergraduates’ability to translate three different levels of Chinese culture-specific items into English and explored the factors which might have affected the students’home culture translation ability.The results show that the participants did well in translating the surface layer cultural items,but their performance in sub-surface and deep layer culture translation tasks was far from being satisfactory.It was also found that students had positive attitudes towards Chinese culture and were willing to learn to express Chinese culture in English,but their English learning motivation in general was not strong enough,and they were not given much input on Chinese culture in their English class.Students’Chinese cultural knowledge and their awareness of the importance of learning Chinese culture in English were found to be the two significant factors that can predict their performance in the translation tasks.These findings have implications for the teaching of culture and cross-cultural communications in EFL classes.

Developing Students’ Intercultural Communicative Competence Through Threads of Personal Experiences: A Reflective Approach

With the development of world globalization, English works as a lingua franca for intercultural communication among different cultures in the world. This shift implies that introducing solely English native speaking cultures to students is not sufficient for their needs. This paper depicts the reflective teaching process of my ten years of experience of teaching intercultural communication.The paper describes how the teacher systematically reflects on the practice of teaching,continuously revises the curriculum, and finally formulates an efficient model of integrating students’ personal experiences into developing students’ intercultural communicative competence and awareness. This reflective study attempts to provide some pedagogical implications for intercultural communication education.

Impact of Intercultural Learning Program on Language Learners＇ Intercultural Competence

As institutions of higher education continue to internationalize, the number of exchanged students climbs ever higher in China. It is important to know what they have gained in the intercultural learning experiences in terms of attitudes, awareness, and knowledge, which are the three constructed dimensions of Intercultural Competence in this study. A qualitative research is conducted by using interview and seven English language learners are investigated to explore their learning outcomes in the intercultural learning program. From the thematic analysis of the interviews, it can be found that these English language learners＇ intercultural competence has been improved during their stay in USA. They successfully overcome cultural shock, hold positive attitudes toward target culture and people, become more confident in English study, and acquire more cultural knowledge. The research outcomes contribute to promoting intercultural learning effectiveness and improving learners＇ intercultural competence.

Innovation for Multinational Corporations

Growth, innovation, and strategic focus are vital for long-term success of multinational corporations （MNCs）. MNCs must create the organizational culture and process for increased competitiveness to sustain better market shares and profits. Towards this end, MNCs should develop a comprehensive innovation strategy. Innovation is a way of life and the spirit of innovation, like the spirit of entrepreneurship, must be sustained. The goal should be continuous growth with competitiveness. And towards this purpose, organizations must innovate. The article draws from innovation concepts as they would lead to organizational growth and competitiveness. MNC international structure, culture, and leadership style have an influence on the innovation culture and creativity process in the MNC organization. The article sets forth a model for MNC decision-making structure and organizational culture for facilitating the innovative fervor and capability to be more favorable to the MNC. The models presented here are meaningful in the quest for greater MNC innovativeness and creativity.

Research aiming at the significance of carrying out intercultural education in process of English teaching

Culture is one of the important properties of language, and language can not be separated from society and culture. Every language is the reflection of culture with profound cultural connotations. Many experts and scholars have generally agreed that intercultural communication competence is an important purpose of language learning. The process of learning English is the process to understand and master English cultural and knowledge, and mastery degree of English-speaking countries and cultural knowledge directly affects practical skills of one person.

Cultural Schema and Intercultural Communicative Competence

Cultural schemas, as cognitive structures and generalized collections of knowledge of past experiences that are organized into related knowledge groups, can be used to perceive and understand various cultural phenomena in the communication. People carry different schemas （background knowledge） that play an important role in guiding people＇s behaviors in intercultural communication. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to theoretically apply communication strategies to the development of intercultural communicative competence in light of Cultural Schema Theory. It focuses on the relationship between cultural schema and intercultural communicative competence. Some pedagogical implications are given that cultural schema could be previously intended to help communicaters have a better and easier life when they are living in other countries, such as awareness raising, knowledge acquisition, emotional management, and skills development. This paper is written on the basis of a collection of the Chinese university students＇ experience of culture-learning. The study has certain significance in the practice on cultural acquisition, communication competence, and intercultural communication.

Improving college non-English majors＇ nonverbal communication competence

Under the widespread view that verbal competence is essential in foreign language acquisition. nonverbal communication has not been given sufficient attention and importance in foreign language teaching in China. In most cases in intercultural interaction, people focus on verbal cues while neglecting those nonverbal messages produced by the bodies and the environment. Such neglect often results in misunderstandings and conflicts because nonverbal communication reveals basic cultural traits from which people are able to gather clues about underlying attitudes and values. So the study of nonverbal communication is an important component to the study of intercultural communication. It deserves due attention in foreign language acquisition. Grounded on the model of cultural learning put forward by Hanvey, the study puts forward a set of feasible suggestions on how to improve intercultural nonverbal communication competence of college non-English majors.

A Cross-Cultural Study on the Reciprocal Relationships Between Individual Values and Communicative Competence

This research compares a sample of the mainland Chinese university students （N = 325） and a sample of the British university students （N = 51） from a cross-cultural perspective by examining the relationships between individual values and communicative competence. Specifically, it aims to gain an insight into cultural impact both on the Chinese university students＇ self-perceptions of communication competence in the Chinese cultural context and on the British university students＇ self-perceptions of communication competence in a Western cultural context. The findings suggest that the mainland Chinese university students＇ interdependent/independent self-construals best predict their self-perceptions of communication competence. Results indicate that both Western and Chinese social values influence the two samples＇ interdependent and independent self-construals, and the two samples＇ self-perceptions of communication competence and interdependent self-construals differ significantly

Bridging Sociality and New Media Practice as a Lever to Intercultural Competency

This paper is based on the findings of a survey on 120 students involved in the Interdisciplinary Course on Intercultural Competences （ICIC）, a three-year EU Lifelong Intensive Program project aimed at developing intercultural competency in the education, social work and health care professions. The Program approached intercultural competency as a culturally aware ability to cope with unfamiliar situations continuously arising in the current ever-changing society, in which learning has become an ＂endemic condition＂, and the new media have created symbolic resources for actively expressing and constructing identities as an in-progress and negotiated project. Intercultural competency is therefore rethought from a holistic perspective as a part of an educational mission that particularly values one＇s communicative and social experiences as a strategic resource for facilitating learning processes and enhancing professional competency. The presented data show sociality as a clustering factor for intercultural learning and displays a factorial structure, from which a model for intercultural education is inferred, in which bridging social capital, media practice and reflective attitude become crucial for gaining and valuing competency in terms of human capital.

The Cultivation of Cross-cultural Communication Ability for Students of the High Vocational Tourism College in Sino- foreign Education Cooperation

In recent years, with rapid development of Sino-foreign cooperation in higher vocational colleges, it puts forward higher requirements for students＇ English comprehensive ability. According to the characteristics of higher vocational colleges of tourism, as well as the author＇ s own teaching experience, this paper elaborates the characteristics of English teaching in the Sino-foreign cooperative education, and the ways to cultivate and improve cross-cultural communication ability for students in tourism colleges.

Strategies to Promote Intercultural Communicative Competence in EFL Teaching

With the acceleration of globalization and internationalization, the demand for multilingual speakers is urgent, which promotes the development of foreign language teaching and learning especially English. Consequently, the English as a Foreign Language （EFL） teaching is paid great attention to in China. Many previous studies show the connection of EFL teaching and teachers＇ intercultural communicative competence （ICC）. Although it is presumed that teachers＇ ICC at this stage is a prerequisite to raise students＇ ICC, the specific strategies to promote teachers＇ intercultural skills in EFL teaching have not yet been empirically demonstrated. The goal of the present study is to put forward some specific strategies to promote teachers＇ ICC in EFL teaching. Two cases including interview and teaching plans, were administered in high school teachers. Sample analysis demonstrated teachers＇ current problems in ICC and in Chinese EFL teaching as well as the necessity for teachers to acquire the specific teaching strategies. These findings seem to suggest that specific strategies are indeed essential to promote teachers＇ ICC in EFL teaching.

Contrast Between English and Chinese Culturally-Loaded Words

Vocabulary in a language is influenced by and bears features of culture, so in languages, vocabulary has the greatest culture-loading capacity. This paper makes a contrastive study between English and Chinese culturally-loaded words, and tries to make clear how cultural disparities exist in English and Chinese vocabulary. Culturally-loaded words play a significant role in understanding the languages of different cultures, giving the readers insight into cultures. Learning and grasping the culturally-loaded words can promote the efficiency of vocabulary teaching and improve learners＇ competence in intercultural communication.