Intercultural/Pluricultural Communication Construct and Its Levels

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.08.2018.03

Keywords:

intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication, socio­cultural competence, pluricultural repertoire, curriculum, language proficiency levels

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the intercultural component (IC) in the English language curricula for the secondary and tertiary education in Latvia in the light of the new edition of Common European Framework of Language Learning, Teaching and Assessment Companion Volume with New Descriptors (CEFR, 2017) and compare it with the previous intercultural communication competence. The research method is documentary analysis of the three documents as regards their approach to intercultural communication. The analysis found that the documents were compatible, in spite of the difference of terminology, although CEFR (2017) aims at language users’ sensitivity and awareness in action, the secondary school proposes tolerance and following the rules, the tertiary education curriculum suggests critical thinking and analysis of the cultural phenomena. The roles of the three documents and their development contexts explain these differences and allow each one of the documents to give their own contribution to IC, as long as the users of the documents understand their differences and shortcomings.

References

standartiem un izglītības programmu paraugiem [Curriculum of the Foreign Languages for the Secondary Schools of Latvia] (n.d.) Available from http://likumi.lv/doc [Accessed on 17 November 2016].

Bowen, G. A. (2009) Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 27–40. DOI 10.3316/QRJ0902027. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027

Byram, M., Gribkova, B. and Starkey, H. (2002) Developing the Intercultural Dimension in Language Teaching: A practical introduction for teachers. Council of Europe.

Coste D., Moore, D. and Zarate, G. (2009) Plurilingual and Pluricultural Competence. Studies towards a Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning and Teaching for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Council of Europe (2001a) Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning and Teaching for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Council of Europe (2017) The European Framework of Language Learning, Teaching and Assessment Companion Volume with New Descriptors.

Delanty, G. (2012) The idea of critical cosmopolitanism. In Handbook of Cosmopolitan Studies (pp. 38–47). London and New York: Publisher.

[ELP] European Language Portfolio Council of Europe (2001b). Available from http://www.coe.int/en/web/portfolio [Accessed on 8 October 2017].

Holliday, A. (2016) Revisiting intercultural competence: small culture formation on the go through threads of experience. International Journal of Bias, Identity and Diversities in Education, 1 (2), July-December: 1–14, DOI: 10.4018/IJBIDE.2016070101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/IJBIDE.2016070101

Intercultural Communication course description (2014) Moodle. Available from www.lu.lv [Accessed on 12 November 2017].

Kalnberzina, V. (2015) Validity of role play in Socio-cultural competence assessment in Year 12 Examinations in Latvia. Baltic Journal of English Language, Literature and Culture, 5: 41–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.05.2015.04

North, B. and Panthier, J. (2016) Updating the CEFR descriptors. Cambridge English: Research Notes, 63, March: 16–24.

Powell, K. (2013) Analyzing a Historical Document. What Does the Record Really Tell Us? https://www.thoughtco.com/analyzing-a-historical-document-1421667 [Accessed on 16 October 2017].

Puzić, S. (2008) Intercultural education in the European context: analysis of selected European curricula. Metodika, 15: 390–407.

Rehbein, J. (2006) Thoughts on the relationship between language, culture, and society. In K. Burig and J. den Thije (eds.) Beyond Misunderstanding. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

State Examination Statistics. Available from http://visc.gov.lv/vispizglitiba/eksameni/statistika/2017/ [Accessed on 12 November 2017].

Downloads

Published

2018-06-19

How to Cite

Kalnbērziņa, V. (2018). Intercultural/Pluricultural Communication Construct and Its Levels. Baltic Journal of English Language, Literature and Culture, 8, 40-55. https://doi.org/10.22364/BJELLC.08.2018.03