Enhancing EFL learners’ intercultural communicative effectiveness through telecollaboration with native and non-native speakers of English

Abstract

Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has recently attracted the researchers’ attention in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context; however, insufficient studies seem to have examined the role of online programmes in enhancing EFL learners’ ICC. The current study, therefore, employed a mixed-methods approach to explore EFL learners’ intercultural communicative effectiveness (ICE), a subcomponent of ICC, through telecollaborative language learning. Two intact classes, studying at a language institute, were selected as the participants of the study and were randomly assigned to an experimental group (henceforth referred to as the telecollaborative group) with 22 learners and a control group (henceforth referred to as the face-to-face group) with 20 learners. The learners in the telecollaborative group communicated with both native and non-native speakers of English by the means of online a/synchronous communication via Tandem, a language learning application, whilst the learners in the face-to-face group were taught intercultural issues during class time. The required quantitative and qualitative data were collected through an intercultural communication effectiveness scale and an individual semi-structured interview. One-way ANCOVA, applied to analyse the quantitative data, demonstrated that the EFL learners’ ICE and its six subscales of behavioural flexibility, interaction relaxation, interactant respect, message skills, identity maintenance, and interaction management were developed in both groups after sharing intercultural background with foreign speakers of English worldwide and with their classmates during class time. Thematic analysis, utilised to analyse the qualitative data, uncovered some themes and categories indicating the learners’ positive attitudes and perceptions towards the telecollaborative language learning activities. Practical implications are discussed next.

Keywords:

• Telecollaborative language learning
• intercultural communicative effectiveness
• EFL learners

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gi-Zen Liu

Gi-Zen Liu is a Distinguished Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Foreign Languages & Literature at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Prof. Liu received his Ph.D. degree in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University Bloomington, U.S.A., in 2003. Based on research outcomes, Prof. Liu received the K. T. Li Honorary Scholar Award in 2016. His research interests include context-aware ubiquitous learning, instructional system design, mobile learning, writing tutorial, CMC, literature review research, and blended learning. Currently Prof. Liu serves as an Associate Editor for Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, as well as serves on the Editorial Board of several academic journals, including International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organization.

Jalil Fathi

Jalil Fathi received his Ph.D. degree in applied linguistics from Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran. He is currently an Associate Professor at University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran. His areas of interest are Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), teacher education, and psychology of language learning. He has published extensively in accredited national journals and authored several papers in internationally acclaimed journals like Computer Assisted Language Learning, System, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning (JCAL), International Journal of Multilingualism, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, Current Psychology, Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Education and Information Technologies, and Frontiers in Psychology. He has also presented extensively in both international and national conferences.

Masoud Rahimi

Masoud Rahimi did his PhD in applied linguistics at Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. He is currently a lecturer at University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran. His research focuses on computer assisted language learning, language learning and technology, English as a foreign language writing and speaking, and research practice in English language teaching. He has published extensively in internationally acclaimed journals, such as Computer Assisted Language Learning, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Thinking Skills and Creativity, Research Papers in Education, and TESOL Journal. He has also presented extensively in internationally acclaimed conferences, such as XVIII International CALL Research Conference, University of California, Berkeley, USA and Global Conference on Linguistics and Foreign Language Teaching, Antalya, Turkey.