Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
What does seem clear is that a total lack of any proficiency in the host tongue most certainly
constrain one’s entry, adaptation, and understanding of the host culture on various levels and in
many ways (unless, of course, one assumes all interactions occur through English, even though
this is not qualitatively the same); while increased host language proficiency must certainly
enhance entry possibilities albeit not an absolute guarantee of success since other factors also
come into play (cf. articles in Appendix I: ICC Bibliography by Fantini on Language, Culture &
Worldview; and Bennett on Fluent Fool, both in New Ways of Teaching Culture.).
Finally, language proficiency aside, much is yet to be said about the participants’ awareness and
development of alternative communicative styles (cf. Part V), another important contribution to
expanding communicative repertoires, which goes beyond linguistic proficiency to embrace the
interactional patterns that form part of all communicative acts.
Assertion No. 3
Intercultural experiences are life-altering
Discussion
British alumni described changes they experienced through their comments in open-ended
sections of the survey questionnaire form; for example:
(BA1) “I have more confidence in speaking to new people….”
(BA2) “More open minded and tolerant of other cultures, more politically aware of South
American politics and issues.”
(BA3) “I do not think it would be an over exaggeration to say that I returned a completely
different person. I was more relaxed, more confident, sharper fitter and healthier. I had learnt a
new language, gained a much greater sense of perspective on all aspects of life and an
understanding of a different culture….”
(BA3) “Empathy towards other countries. More motivated to immerse in other cultures.”
(BA4) “It was one of the most important experiences of my life because I went at the age of 60 to
a country I had never visited with a language I did not know and whose customs I was unfamiliar
with on my own after nearly 40 years of marriage doing most things with my husband.”
(BA8) “…I have become more confident and understanding, patient and flexible.”
The Swiss participants expressed similar thoughts through comments they also made in openended
sections of the form; for example:
“we now have many friends from South America and other intercultural couples”
“I’ve become more adventurous; I have new contacts with people from Latin America”
(SA1) “I have learned to switch between two cultures”
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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