Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions

Higher institutions in Jordan and Morocco prioritize intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in their educational system. This study aimed to analyze the impact of culture-based classes on ICC dimensions and language skills learning, examine English teachers' instructional strategies regar...

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Main Authors: Khalid Hicham, Naji Masned AlQbailat, Islam Asim Ismail, Nizar M. Qpilat, Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh, Othman Khalid Al-Shboul, Fatima Zahra Masrar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Ampersand
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215039025000050
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author Khalid Hicham
Naji Masned AlQbailat
Islam Asim Ismail
Nizar M. Qpilat
Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh
Othman Khalid Al-Shboul
Fatima Zahra Masrar
author_facet Khalid Hicham
Naji Masned AlQbailat
Islam Asim Ismail
Nizar M. Qpilat
Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh
Othman Khalid Al-Shboul
Fatima Zahra Masrar
author_sort Khalid Hicham
collection DOAJ
description Higher institutions in Jordan and Morocco prioritize intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in their educational system. This study aimed to analyze the impact of culture-based classes on ICC dimensions and language skills learning, examine English teachers' instructional strategies regarding culture and interculturality, and explore whether current pedagogy caters to ICC dimensions and language skills among EFL undergraduate learners. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, data were collected from 40 university teachers through questionnaires and interviews. The study employed qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics, with Byram's (1997) model of ICC serving as the theoretical framework. Findings revealed that ICC dimensions and language skills developed primarily in culture-based classes, though development was uneven across components. Teachers showed limited use of these classes for teaching both language skills and ICC, mainly due to restricted content variety and teaching methodologies. This limitation highlights the need for greater concentrated efforts to enhance these components within the educational framework. The study highlights the need for more diverse materials and methods to support ICC development and language skills within the Moroccan and Jordanian EFL contexts. It calls for reforms in teaching practices, curriculum design, and policy-making to enhance linguistic and intercultural competence. Recommendations include increased focus on curriculum development, course description design, and teacher training to better integrate culture-based classes in EFL teaching, ensuring equitable attention to all language skills and ICC dimensions.
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issn 2215-0390
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spelling doaj-art-1bb85fc6889b4cfda42bfac3dd3570112025-08-20T02:06:44ZengElsevierAmpersand2215-03902025-06-011410022110.1016/j.amper.2025.100221Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensionsKhalid Hicham0Naji Masned AlQbailat1Islam Asim Ismail2Nizar M. Qpilat3Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh4Othman Khalid Al-Shboul5Fatima Zahra Masrar6Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, MoroccoEnglish Language and Literature Department, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan; Corresponding author.English Language Education, The English and Foreign Languages University, IndiaMohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Jordan University, Amman, JordanDepartment of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, JordanEnglish Language and Literature Department, Al-Balqa Applied University, JordanFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco; English Language and Literature Department, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan; English Language Education, The English and Foreign Languages University, India; Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Jordan University, Amman, Jordan; Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; English Department, University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal, MoroccoHigher institutions in Jordan and Morocco prioritize intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in their educational system. This study aimed to analyze the impact of culture-based classes on ICC dimensions and language skills learning, examine English teachers' instructional strategies regarding culture and interculturality, and explore whether current pedagogy caters to ICC dimensions and language skills among EFL undergraduate learners. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, data were collected from 40 university teachers through questionnaires and interviews. The study employed qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics, with Byram's (1997) model of ICC serving as the theoretical framework. Findings revealed that ICC dimensions and language skills developed primarily in culture-based classes, though development was uneven across components. Teachers showed limited use of these classes for teaching both language skills and ICC, mainly due to restricted content variety and teaching methodologies. This limitation highlights the need for greater concentrated efforts to enhance these components within the educational framework. The study highlights the need for more diverse materials and methods to support ICC development and language skills within the Moroccan and Jordanian EFL contexts. It calls for reforms in teaching practices, curriculum design, and policy-making to enhance linguistic and intercultural competence. Recommendations include increased focus on curriculum development, course description design, and teacher training to better integrate culture-based classes in EFL teaching, ensuring equitable attention to all language skills and ICC dimensions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215039025000050Culture-based classesEFL teaching techniquesIntercultural communicative competenceLanguage skills
spellingShingle Khalid Hicham
Naji Masned AlQbailat
Islam Asim Ismail
Nizar M. Qpilat
Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh
Othman Khalid Al-Shboul
Fatima Zahra Masrar
Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
Ampersand
Culture-based classes
EFL teaching techniques
Intercultural communicative competence
Language skills
title Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
title_full Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
title_fullStr Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
title_full_unstemmed Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
title_short Interculturalizing ELT: Culture-based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
title_sort interculturalizing elt culture based classes to enhance language skills and intercultural communicative competence dimensions
topic Culture-based classes
EFL teaching techniques
Intercultural communicative competence
Language skills
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215039025000050
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