Exploring Vietnamese English-major Students' Perceptions towards Intercultural Understanding

Abstract

This qualitative research investigates the perspectives of Vietnamese English majors on intercultural understanding. Twenty Vietnamese EFL students from a university in the south of Vietnam participated in semi-structured interviews. The majority of participants recognized the significance of intercultural understanding in language learning with various benefits. The participants also identified difficulties in communicating effectively across cultures, according to the study's findings. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of incorporating authentic materials and intercultural experiences into language instruction in order to enhance intercultural competence. Increasing cultural awareness, language proficiency, and challenging stereotypes and prejudices are strategies for fostering greater intercultural understanding. The results of this study suggests that Vietnamese foreign language educators should prioritize intercultural competence in language instruction and provide students with opportunities to engage in intercultural experiences. The findings may contribute to the literature intercultural education and language teaching methodologies, especially in the Vietnamese context.