Incorporating intercultural training in the process of language learning to University level students

1. Incorporating intercultural training in the process of language learning to University level students Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, Ph d candidate, MA in Education, MA in English linguistics at “Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski” Language trainer and consultant University of Food Technologies- Plovdiv, Bulgaria www.aspectstudio.hit.bg e mail:jhristozova@evrocom.net Sofia, 2007

2. Importance of the development intercultural competence in a process of a foreign language learning • English has become a global language functioning as Lingua franca • It has been spread on the territory of the 5 continents and is widely spoken • Interrelations of the foreign language learners with the language reality has been in a wide – from complete identification to the complete ignorance of the learning culture or a confrontation with local , national culture • Teaching English language for special purposes to University level students is seem more as a natural resourceful process for intercultural competence development • Bulgarians have been facing new challenges as European citizens Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva,, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

3. Culture as an icebergwww.ideanet.doe.state.in.us Gibson. Cultural onion Concepts about culture – the Iceberg concept and Hofstede’s cultural onion Practices Practices Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

4. A Question: „What do you know about Anglo-Saxon culture? I do not know– 56% Higher level of culture and traditions of the British - 22% I have negative attitude – 8% Conservative ( British) - 6% Multicultural (American) – 4 % Progressive (American) –2% I would like to learn more – 2% Diagram me № 1Survey on students’ cultural awareness toward learning culture(American and British ) Students accept culture as “High” They connect culture with the economic standard Students tend to generalize fast each fact and stereotype different groups of societies Such interpretations could generate tension and inadequacy toward acceptance of different cultures , to reduce the positivism and to lead to cultural conflicts, stereotypes or any form of discrimination and prejudices , to isolation and negativism in a wider context Survey on University students’ cultural awareness (American and British culture) Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva,, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

5. Main students resources for acquiring communicative competence Diagramme № 2 Resources for communicative competence (knowledge and skills) • A question№ 2: (What kind of resources do you use in order to obtain knowledge and skills for communication (international)? (If you have more then one answer, please rate itwith 1 for maximum означите най-често използуваните, с 2- for less used and so on). • Television and cinema – 62,5% • Internet – 47,5% • Foreign language learning - 43% • Travels - 23% • Advertising - 17% • Media press – 6% • Results show: Immerse influence on media upon students It is essential a special approach to be developed in order any propaganda of the media to be critically accepted It is essencial for a teacher/trainer to plan and use authentic materials To encourage “first hand” experience for a real cultural experience and exchange Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

6. What problems have you faced communicating with representativeof the learning foreign culture ? I have no problems - 35% I do not want to comment – 29% Language problems – 12% I can’t communicate in English even I know the language – 6% Selfishness and lack of competency of the foreigners – 6% Foreigner should learn themselves to be more tolerant to representative to people from economically not stable societies - 6% Without any answers – 6% It is crucial for learning a foreign language attention to be brought to the problems of cultural matter. It should be underlined that these problems are natural and exist so a strategy should be elaborated Ignoring them could cause bigger problems and will turns to a resource of continuous negativism to whole representatives of the learning culture How do you overcome conflicts and misunderstanding with representative of the learning culture ? I am trying to be patient 12% With calmness – 12% With personal dignity – 6% I do not have a decision – 29% I do not want to comment – 29% Without any answer- 12% Results show that among students there are not elaborated skills from conflict resolution strategies and techniques concerning problems of cultural matter Students do not feel enough competent about such problematic issues Focus on students’ attitude toward problems in communication Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva,, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

7. This model presents the main components of intercultural competence : language /linguistic competence; skills, and attitudes. Knowledge Communicative competence Linguistic competence Sociocultural competence Cultural awareness Culture1(education, Art, literature, history) and Culture 2(symbols, values, national characters)(Hofsteade, с 5-9); Skills Communication skills Language skills; Skills for recognizing the differences; Comparison skills; Skills for Interpretation, comparison and reflection; Critical thinking skills; Asking questions skills; Opinion and decision making skills; Expression agreement and disagreement skills; Conflict resolution skills; Cultural flexibility; Cultural sensitivity; Empathy; Tolerance; Confronting stereotypes and prejudices approach . Attitudes Positive attitude toward the otherness; Openness and intellectual curiosity to any new culture Intercultural competence - Structure and content Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

8. Intercultural competence awareness Competences, skills, attitudes Methods of classroom training Textbook content (content analysis) Forms of training Discussion and case studies Foreign language textbook Implementing different techniques Brainstorming, mind map. Additional authentic resources Intercultural training Indirect methods of observation Virtual forums Projects, document analyses Role-plays and stimulations Dramatizations Model for intercultural competence development in a process of a foreign language learning Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

9. A training programme for intercultural competenceWhat is an intercultural training ?“Formal efforts designed to prepare people for more effective interpersonal relations when they interact with individuals from cultures other then their own” Brislin, (1994 :2)Why should a teacher incorporate it the process of a foreign language learning? Possible benefits for learners and teachers:to raise cultural awareness:to understand more about the relation among language and cultureto develop more positive attitude toward target culture and the people who use itto stimulate and foster motivation for learning a second/foreign languageto develop critical thinkingto open a/the space for othernessto understand better national and international culturesto get more global and tolerant perspective How it to be incorporated? A four stage model is suggested by some authors which is accepted and implemented in the course using different materials: Awareness Knowledge Emotional Challenges Behavior ___________________ Brislin, R., T. Yoshida, 1994. Intercultural communication training: an introduction. Thousand Oaks and London: Sage Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

10. The Critical – Events Model(Nadler1982) Identify the Needs of the Organization Specify Job performance Conduct training Evaluation And Feedback Identify learners Needs Obtain Instruct tonal resources Determine Objectives Select Instructional resources Build curriculum Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net

11. Summarizes and conclusion In the training session principles of psychodrama methods and different techniques are used . • The accent is made on the problem solving approach, which is oriented towards the needs of the participants. • Each session starts with: • Short introduction of participants (warm – up session), • Information about the cultural models and possible resources of conflicts • Case – study analyses / or a role- play to foster a sharing • Participants are encouraged to share and reflect on their experience. Then a certain problem is chosen by all participants and they are encouraged to play it. In such sessions drama techniques and role plays are used a lot. • Final stage: The session finishes with conclusion and debriefing. Potential benefits of the intercultural training are: • Developing intercultural competence • Developing social skills • Fostering communicative competence in target language • Arising awareness of learning culture • Acquiring an openness and tolerance toward other cultures • Contribution to the intellectual stimulating and personal growth • Developing personal motivation in learning a target language The training is designed for graduate students in the field of tourism, management who are going to work in a global community and international business sector. Yordana Hristozova- Mandradjieva, www.aspectstudio.hit.bg jhristozova@evrocom.net