The Interface between Iranian EFL Teachers' Intercultural Sensitivity and Their Ethnic and Demographic Backgrounds
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Aug 1, 2016
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Abstract
Given the ever-increasing trend of interconnectedness among nations on the one hand and the importance of professional development of foreign language teachers on the other, educational systems need to be reoriented to address intercultural dimension of language teaching and its interface with social and ethnic identities as its inseparable components. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Iranian EFL teachers' intercultural sensitivity level with thier ethnic background, age, and gender. To collect the data, Chen and Starosta's (2000) Intercultural sensitivity scale (ISS) and a demographic background information questionnaire were utilized. The results of the t-test and a Pearson correlation indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between gender and intercultural sensitivity. But, there is not a statistically significant relationship between age and intercultural sensitivity. Similarly, the relationship between ethnic background and intercultural sensitivity turned out to be insignificant.
Keywords: Iranian EFL teachers; Intercultural Sensitivity; Gender; Age; Ethnic background
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References
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Singleton, D. and Lengyel, Z. (1995).The age factor in second language acquisition 10: 165- 180.
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Wang, X.Y. (2008). Reflection on the notion of culture teaching. US-China Foreign Language, 6(1), 49-53.
West, C and Zimmerman, D. (1987). Doing Gender. Gender & Society 1:125-151.
Wiseman, R. L. (1995). Intercultural communication theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publication.
Yang, M, (2007). Language learning strategies for junior college students in Taiwan: Investigating ethnicity and proficiency, Asian EFL journal, 9 (2), 35-57.
Young, J. T. , Sachdev, I., and Seedhouse, P. (2009). Teaching and learning culture on English language programs: a critical review of the recent empirical literature. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 3(2) 149-164.
Bennett, M. J. (2004). Becoming interculturally competent. In Wurzel, J. (Ed.). Toward multiculturalism: A reader in multicultural education (2nd Ed. pp. 62-77). Newton, MA: Intercultural Resource Corporation.
Bennett, M.J. (1993), Toward Ethnorelativism: A Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. W: R. M. Paige (red.) Education for the Intercultural Experience.
Bennett, M.J. (1998). Intercultural communication: A current perspective. In M. Bennett (Ed.), Basic concepts of intercultural communication (pp. 1-34). Yarmouth, Maine: Intercultural Press, Inc Bennett a, 1993, p.1
Bhawuk, D. P. S., and Brislin, R. (1992).The measurement of intercultural sensitivity using the concepts of individualism and collectivism. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 16(4), 413-436.
Brown, D. H. (2000). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. (4th Ed.) New York: Longman.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. New York and London: Routledge.
Byolistok, Ellen. (1997). The structure of age" In search of barriers to second language acquisition. Second language research 13: 116-137.
Chastain, K. (1988). Developing second language skills: Theory and practice. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich publishers.
Chen, G. M., and Starosta, W. J. (1997).A review of the concept of intercultural sensitivity. Human Communication, 1, 1-16.
Chen, G. M., and Starosta, W. J. (1999). A review of the concept of intercultural awareness. Human Communication, 2, 27-54
Chen, G.M., and Starosta.W.J. (2000). The development and validation of the intercultural communication sensitivity scale. Human communication, 3, 1-15.
Cohen, A. D and Dornyei, Z. (2002). Focus on the Language Learning: Motivation, style, and strategies. In Schmitt, N. (ed.) an introduction to applied linguistics. London: Arnold.
Cook, V. (2001). Second language learning and language teaching. London: Arnold
Eckeret, p., and McConnell-Ginet, S. (2003). Language and Gender. Second Edition. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge university press.
Ellis, R. (1994). The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Elorza, I. (2008). Promoting intercultural competence in the FL/SL classroom: Translations as sources of data. Language and Intercultural Communication, 8 (4), 261-277.
Fritz, W., Mollenberg, A., and Chen, G. (2001). Measuring intercultural sensitivity in different cultural context. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies, July 24-29, Hong Kong. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 456 491)
Gao, F. (2006). Language is Culture – On Intercultural Communication. Journal of Language and Linguistics, 5(1), 58-67.Wang 2008
Green, J. M., and Oxford, R.L. (1995).A closer look at learning strategies, L2proficiency, and gender. TESOL Quarterly, 29 (2), 261-297.
Gudykunts W . B., and Nishida, T. (1989). Theoretical perspective of studying intercultural communication. In M. F. Astane and W. B Gudikunts (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural and intercultural communication (pp. 17-46). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Hammer, M. R., Bennet, M. J., and Wiseman, R. (2003). Measuring intercultural sensitivity: The intercultural development inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27 (4), 421-433.
Hammer, M. R., Bennett, M. J., and Wiseman, R. (2003). Measuring intercultural sensitivity: The intercultural development inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27 (4), 421-433.
Hammer, M., Gudicunst, W., and Wiseman, R. (1978). Dimensions of intercultural effectiveness: an exploratory study. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2 382-393.
Hong-Nam, K., and Leavell, G.A (2006). Language learning strategy use of ESL students in an intensive English learning context. System, 34 (3), 399-415.
Jiang, W. (2000). The Relationship between Culture and Language. ELT Journal, 54 (4): 328- 334.
Jimenez Catalan, R. M (2005). Linking gender and second language education in a database. CAUCE, Revista Intercultural de Filogia y su Didactica, 28, 205-218.
Krashen, S.D., Long, M.A. and Scarcella, R. C. (1979). Age, race and eventual attainment in second language acquisition. TESOL Quarterly, 13,573-582.
Singer, M. R. (1998). Culture: A perceptual approach. In M. Bennett (Ed.), Basic concepts of intercultural communication (pp. 97-110). Yarmouth, Maine: Intercultural Press. Inc.
Singleton, D. and Lengyel, Z. (1995).The age factor in second language acquisition 10: 165- 180.
Stern, H. H. (1991). Fundamental concepts of language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University press.Brown, D. H. (2000).Principles of Language Learning and Teaching.(4th Ed.) New York: Pearson.
Wang, X.Y. (2008). Reflection on the notion of culture teaching. US-China Foreign Language, 6(1), 49-53.
West, C and Zimmerman, D. (1987). Doing Gender. Gender & Society 1:125-151.
Wiseman, R. L. (1995). Intercultural communication theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publication.
Yang, M, (2007). Language learning strategies for junior college students in Taiwan: Investigating ethnicity and proficiency, Asian EFL journal, 9 (2), 35-57.
Young, J. T. , Sachdev, I., and Seedhouse, P. (2009). Teaching and learning culture on English language programs: a critical review of the recent empirical literature. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 3(2) 149-164.