Engaging EFL Readers in Literature Circles to Escalate Intercultural Communicative Competence

Abstract

Cultural clashes have driven the goal of language instruction toward mastering intercultural communicative competence (ICC). However, the instruction on ICC in expanded circles has not gained its traction in English instruction although its significance has been confirmed by teachers in teaching and testing context. This work study investigated Indonesian student-teachers’ cultural viewpoints as they encounter the notion of ‘otherness’ in intercultural circles. Thirty-five first-semester students partook in literature circles, embedded with culturally-laden readings, during 3 weeks of an Intensive Reading course. The study evinced that intercultural circles had significantly improved the students’ ICC, with Intercultural knowledge found dominant in determining the overall ICC. The students voiced positive attitude on the power of intercultural circles to encourage them to be open-minded and tolerant to cultural differences.