An Empirical Study on the Intercultural Communicative Competence of Chinese EFL College Students

Abstract

Through a questionnaire survey of 100 English majors and non-English majors in North China Electric Power University, this study explores the intercultural communicative competence (ICC) of Chinese EFL students at the tertiary level. The questions in the questionnaire are designed around three key points concerning the ICC: intercultural knowledge, intercultural awareness and ICC. The correlation between the ICC, the academic achievement, and other relevant factors has been examined. The results of the data analysis show that: (1) all students have a considerable amount of intercultural knowledge, have developed keen awareness of cultural differences, and are equipped with a relatively high level of ICC; (2) there is a positive correlation between their academic achievements and their ICC; (3) factors of international experience, gender and major have some effects on students’ ICC. Students with international experience tend to have a better intercultural performance, and so do the female students and English majors.

Keywords: intercultural communicative competence, intercultural knowledge, intercultural awareness, Chinese EFL college students