Improving the Intercultural Communicative Competence of English Language Students

Mayra Rodriguez Ruiz (1) , Neusa Olinda Varela Spínola (2)
1. School of Humanities Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas
2. Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, Villa Clara, Cuba

Abstract

Nowadays intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is an important tool in foreign language teaching and learning. The main goal of this article is to propose some tasks to improve the intercultural communicative competence in the English Language Course at Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. In so doing, the article provides some theoretical foundations of concepts related to culture, communicative competence, intercultural communication and intercultural communicative competence. The tasks proposed can be adapted to different contexts, taking into account learners’ needs and interests. They apply the four language skills at the same time, combining communicative competence and intercultural communicative competence, the two aspects that make a learner a perfect mediator within the teaching and learning process of a foreign language.

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Authors

Mayra Rodriguez Ruiz
(Primary Contact)
Neusa Olinda Varela Spínola
Author Biographies

Mayra Rodriguez Ruiz

Mayra Rodríguez Ruiz is a Full Professor of the Department of English Language of Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, Villa Clara, Cuba since 1978. She has got her PhD degree in Pedagogy in 2004. She is a member of the European Association of Teachers of Academic Writing. Her research interests are teaching writing, intercultural communication and discourse analysis.

Neusa Olinda Varela Spínola

Neusa Olinda Varela Spínola studied English Language with a Second Foreign Language French (BA), in Cuba (2005-2012). She worked for 6 months as Manager of Isaac Show-cultural events contesting (Cape Verde). Currently, she teaches English as a Foreign Language in Escola Secundária de Chão Bom-Tarrafal, Cape Verde. She is the vice-president of an association working to help Capeverdean societies: Associação Nostalgia de Cabo Verde. Her interests are English Language and its relation with intercultural communication, migration and cultural cohesion.

Ruiz, M. R., & Spínola, N. O. V. (2019). Improving the Intercultural Communicative Competence of English Language Students. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 19(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v19i1.774

Article Details

How to Cite

Ruiz, M. R., & Spínola, N. O. V. (2019). Improving the Intercultural Communicative Competence of English Language Students. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 19(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v19i1.774