Intercultural Communicative Competence: In-Service EFL Teachers Building Understanding Through Study Groups

Published

2020-01-01

Competencia comunicativa intercultural: profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera en servicio construyendo entendimiento a través de grupos de estudio

Keywords:

Culture, English as foreign language, inservice teacher education, intercultural communicative competence, study groups (en)
competencia comunicativa intercultural, cultura, formación del profesorado en servicio, grupos de estudio, inglés como lengua extranjera (es)

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Authors

Luis Fernando Cuartas Álvarez Universidad de Antioquia

Abstract (en)
Abstract (es)

This paper reports on an exploratory collective case study on three in-service English language teachers in Medellin, Colombia. The study aimed at creating a route for teachers to collaboratively construct their understanding of intercultural communicative competence through their involvement in a study group. Data were collected through recordings, interviews, and reflective logs, which followed a bottom-up analysis. Results evidenced changes in the participants’ views of culture, cross-cultural knowledge, intercultural stance, and understanding of intercultural communicative competence. As a conclusion, study groups materialized as an applicable tool for teachers’ professional development, which allowed participants to redraw their own initial beliefs and assumptions, fostering them to change professionally and in their praxis.

Este documento reporta un estudio de caso colectivo exploratorio en tres maestros de inglés en Medellín, Colombia. El estudio apuntó a crear una ruta para que los maestros construyeran colaborativamente su comprensión de la competencia comunicativa intercultural a través de un grupo de estudio. Los datos recopilados incluyen grabaciones, entrevistas y registros reflexivos, que siguieron un análisis de datos ascendente. Los resultados evidenciaron cambios en las visiones de los participantes sobre la cultura, su conocimiento y postura intercultural, y su entendimiento de la competencia comunicativa intercultural. Como conclusión, el grupo de estudio se materializó como una herramienta aplicable para el desarrollo profesional docente, permitiendo a los participantes redibujar sus propias creencias y suposiciones, fomentándolos a cambiar profesionalmente y en su praxis.

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