How the English Language Students Perceive Cultural Diversity

Abstract

This study is based on the perceptions of cultural diversity of higher education students in Indonesia. It aims at: 1) examining the students’ perception on diversity in higher education, 2) investigating why it is necessary to respect people from different cultural backgrounds, and 3) exploring the benefits of interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. The present study also identifies an important aspect in interacting with students from a different cultural background, so that the policy maker could take the study as a source in new policy formulation in educational practices. It employed a mixed-methods research design under the paradigm of descriptive statistics illustrating mean, standard deviation, and percentage, followed by detailed explanation of the statements given by the students. The participants of the study were the students of the Graduate Program of English Education Study Program, State University of Makassar, Indonesia in the 2019/2020 academic year. The instrument of the research was an open-ended questionnaire. The study reveals that the most frequent source of students’ intercultural communication practice comprehends that a great nation is a nation that understands and accepts cultural diversity and the participants strongly respect other people from different cultures. They also claim that difference is advantage that needs to be and openly accepted in a multi-cultural society. The study also concludes that there are many benefits associated with interacting with people from different cultures; some of those advantages are related to improving one’s cultural knowledge, being an open-minded person, exchanging on differing life styles, and becoming a more openminded person and tolerant person.