Promoting cross‐cultural awareness and understanding: incorporating ethnographic interviews in college EFL classes in Taiwan

Abstract

The emergence of the incorporation of culture into EFL education is a growing trend in Taiwan. The purpose of the study was to examine: (1) the effects of the ethnographic interview project on Taiwanese students' cognitive development in understanding native English speakers and their cultures; (2) changes in students' self‐awareness and understanding of both the target culture and their own; and (3) students' perceptions of the ethnographic interview project employed in EFL college classes. Data were collected through pre–post questionnaires, oral and written reports, classroom observation and interviews. Results indicated that participation in the ethnographic interview project helped facilitate the development of cross‐cultural awareness and communication skills by providing opportunities for students to gain insight into the values of target language countries, learn to view their own culture in new ways, increase their confidence in using English to communicate and view authentic communication as the goal of EFL learning. The majority of the participants saw the ethnographic interview project as an effective means of facilitating intercultural/interpersonal communication and understanding.