Cultivation and Implementation of Intercultural English

Communicative Competence

Zhu Jian

Heyuan Polytechnic, Heyuan, Guangdong, 517000, China

Keywords: Intercultural communicative competence, English competence, cultivation, teaching.

Abstract: Language is the bridge and tool of communication and language teaching is the most important approach for

language mastery. Currently, intercultural communication has become quite common in international

communication, while there are still certain limitations in domestic cultivation of intercultural

communicative competence. It is imperative to improve corresponding competence cultivation. Based on

the development regulations of language and culture, we explored teaching methods of intercultural

education in daily English teaching, and established the basis of intercultural communicative competence

for learners. This work is hoped to give a reference to the improvement of intercultural communicative

competence.

1 INTRODUCTION

International communication is increasingly

common after China entering into the international

community and becoming part of international

politics, economy and culture. English teaching has

become an important type in current various cultural

educations. As one communication tool, the value

and significance of language are reflected in

intercultural communication. Besides basic skills of

English language, English teaching should also

combine English language competence with daily

English culture, encouraging students to have

intercultural communication with English. In fact,

students always learn English under long-term

exam-oriented education that focuses on English

teaching on basic language skills. Although they are

quite familiar with the solution of question formats

in English subject, these students lack experience in

the application of English language, especially in the

communication with English language skills (Wang

Ying, 2007). As the fundamental objective of

English language learning, skillful intercultural

communication is relatively difficult for our students

who are in the cultural environment of Chinese

language for a long time. Therefore, it is important

for the cultivation and implementation of

intercultural communicative competence for

students in daily English teaching.

2 CONNECTION BETWEEN

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

BASED ON COMMUNICATIVE

COMPETENCE

Daily interactions of humans gradually create

language as one stable communication tool. Its

specific significance is given by culture. Every

language presents unique life experience of one

specific national group (Zhu Aifang, 2013). It has

the cultural characteristics of the nation. The

exploration of cultural background knowledge as

well as language teaching can improve the

communicative character of language. English

teaching without situation and culture of English-

speaking countries may fail to bring comprehensive

mastery of intercultural communicative

characteristics in English language. Therefore,

language and related culture based on

communicative competence are an inseparable

organic whole (Zhang Min, 2014).

In addition, the mastery of communicative

competence needs familiarity of English culture as

well as Chinese culture. Specifically, it is beneficial

for the popularization of Chinese culture in foreign

countries during intercultural communication.

Besides, with characteristics of native thinking

model and culture, unique ideas and wisdom are

contributed to cultural communication. It is

239

Jian Z.

Cultivation and Implementation of Intercultural English Communicative Competence.

DOI: 10.5220/0006448102390241

In ISME 2016 - Information Science and Management Engineering IV (ISME 2016), pages 239-241

ISBN: 978-989-758-208-0

239

conducive to the understanding of Chinese culture

for foreigners and the success in intercultural

communication.

3 NECESSITY OF COMPETENCE

CULTIVATION IN

INTERCULTURAL ENGLISH

COMMUNICATION

Firstly, daily communicative activity involving

foreign culture is becoming increasingly common

with current frequent intercultural communication

and rapid globalization. Intercultural English

communication has been a realistic requirement.

Although there are only several countries where

English is the first language in the world, English is

still widely used as the second language and even

the language of international communication.

Besides, English-speaking countries have an

important effect on global politics, economy and

culture. English has become an intercultural

communicative tool in different cultural

environment. Successful English communication is

determined by the good mastery and application of

English skills as well as the understanding of

differences between Chinese and English culture.

Then with the basis, related culture will be flexibly

applied in English communication.

Secondly, the influence of cultural awareness on

language learning is the important foundation of

competence cultivation for intercultural English

communication. Indicated by current development

of linguistics, the understanding of related cultural

knowledge can prevent language learning from

becoming mechanical imitation and transform it into

innovative language application model. The purpose

of English learning is to acquire English culture and

related information. So the mastery of English

language culture is required for comprehensive

exploration of language connotation such as deep

and underlying meanings of English vocabularies

and expression. Therefore, cultural awareness has

important practical significance for English language

learners who attempt to have ability of culture

adaptation.

Thirdly, the cultivation of cultural awareness has

become one objective of current English teaching.

Corresponding requirement of English curriculum

standard is produced from primary grades to higher

institutions. Cultural awareness always acts as part

of comprehensive application ability of English

language in all levels of English teaching. For

students, English language skills can be mastered by

repeated training and mechanical memorization,

while the values and connotation of English

language culture need mastery of related culture.

These aspects are the key points and difficulties of

English teaching actually. Faced with common

exam-oriented education, most learners learn

English just for admission tests or corresponding

certificates of English language competence. They

never have deep exploration and study of English

language culture, leading to the wide condition of

dumb English. Failure of intercultural

communication with English language is determined

by the inexperienced application of English

language and the lack of cultural background

knowledge.

4 BASIC PRINCIPLE OF

COMPETENCE CULTIVATION

IN INTERCULTURAL

ENGLISH COMMUNICATION

English teachers are required to carry out teaching

activities with the combination of English cultural

characteristics and basic laws of language learning.

They should avoid the blindness of cultural

knowledge teaching in daily English courses. With

emphasis on the systematicness and scientificity of

cultural infiltration, teachers can guide English

learners for further study of English language under

the background of English cultural knowledge.

Firstly, in the cultivation of intercultural

communicative competence, English teachers need

to pay attention to the basic principle of progression.

The differences of English levels for most English

learners are determined by several aspects such as

the ages and personal emotion. The accumulation of

English knowledge is a progressive process along

with the perfect of mental maturity of learners.

Therefore, virtuous English teaching is required to

follow the progressive process from simpleness to

complexity in the communicative competence

cultivation. Meanwhile, English learners need to

gradually understand related English cultural

knowledge when teachers perfect their teaching

work.

Secondly, English teachers have to connect

English culture with practical language application

in the cultivation of intercultural communicative

competence. Meanwhile, they need to avoid

excessive attention to obscure and impractical

language knowledge. The combination of basic

language skills and English cultural knowledge has a

positive effect on the process of English cultural

learning for language learners. Basic language skills

(e.g. vocabulary and grammar) and English cultural

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knowledge are an inseparable and close whole that is

beneficial for English learning and teaching.

Thirdly, related screening of English cultural

knowledge is required in the cultivation of

intercultural communicative competence. English

teachers should be responsible for the selection and

arrangement of teaching contents. Meanwhile,

interestingness of English cultural knowledge needs

to be considered in the process of edition. With the

principle of moderation, teachers have to elaborately

explore and research the teaching methods in the

elementary stage. Besides, reasonable estimation of

students should be conducted for their educational

level of English language and cognitive competence

of language cultural knowledge.

5 CULTIVATION SKILLS OF

INTERCULTURAL ENGLISH

COMMUNICATION

COMPETENCE

Direct note is used as one method for the

explanation of related English cultural knowledge. It

can be shown in written form or in oral form (e.g.

film aside). The distributed handout for English

learners can have notes for difficult cultural points

such as some fixed use of English or specific

expression of English. Teachers can add comments

in the handout as their notes to interest learners in

English language cultural knowledge. Direct note

can also be used for explain sentences with

ambiguity in certain English cultural backgrounds.

The wide application of culture aside can ensure that

learners receive better education of related English

language cultural knowledge in English teaching.

Finally, long-term memories are formed by the

combination of culture aside with teaching

textbooks.

Comparison is another method for the

summarization of English cultural knowledge. It is a

relatively common method in intercultural language

teaching. There are huge differences in Chinese

culture and British & American culture caused by

historical society and natural conditions. The

differences exist in various aspects of language

cultural knowledge in both sides. Therefore, for the

demand of teaching, intercultural English language

teaching can start from the differences comparison

of two cultures in order to strengthen the memory

and impression of learners.

The third method for English teaching demand is

the systematic introduction of cultural knowledge.

English language culture has its characteristics with

certain systematicness that can be generalized into a

simple model. Based on the brief framework and

model of English language culture, teachers can

introduce some related English language knowledge

to students. Meanwhile, students can master the

knowledge with the systematic framework.

Compared with nonsystematic lesson aside, the

teaching method can progressively help student

better master related English language knowledge,

although it is a time-consuming process.

In addition, practical training and simulation

games can be adopted in the teaching of intercultural

English language knowledge. Generally, methods of

dramatic play and scene simulation help language

learners pay attention to the situation and related

language culture in communication. Besides, the

form of cultural package can be used in intercultural

communicative teaching. Cultural package refers to

the knowledge package of culture with the

combination and edition of language situation and

language cultural knowledge like the custom of gift.

Problems and solutions of related cultural package

will help students with their knowledge review of

English language culture.

6 CONCLUSIONS

Systematized knowledge teaching of English

language culture can bring mature application ability

of English knowledge to students in daily English

teaching. English cultural knowledge can increase

their interest of English learning and improve their

comprehensive humanistic quality, establishing a

solid foundation for intercultural international

communication. Although current intercultural

English language teaching is still immature, its

continuous perfection will finally realize the

cultivation of communicative language ability and

the improvement of comprehensive English

application ability for learners.

REFERENCES

Wang Ying. College Spoken English Teaching and

Cultivation of Intercultural Communication

Competence. Education Exploration. 2007 (05): 43-44.

Zhu Aifang. Developing Cross-cultural Communicative

Competence in Foreign Language Teaching. Journal

of Naval University of Engineering. 2013(02): 69-72.

Zhang Min, Zheng Qingqing, Zhang Yinsong. Cultivation

and Practice of Intercultural Communication

Competence in Foreign Language Teaching. Academy.

2014(02): 26-27.

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Cultivation and Implementation of Intercultural English Communicative Competence

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