Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence in the Asian EFL Context: A Systematic Research Synthesis

Abstract

In the 21st century, intercultural communication is inevitable owing to cutting-edge technologies and transportation. Thus, over the past decades, there has been an ever-increasing interest in and attention to intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in English language teaching and learning. This study reports findings from a systematic research synthesis of 20 empirical studies regarding learning and teaching ICC in the Asian English as a foreign language (EFL) context. The research questions incl ude: 1) In what contexts was ICC investigated?; 2) Who were the participants in the reviewed studies?; 3) What kinds of ICC topics were explored?; 4) What activities and tasks were involved in ICC teaching and learning?; 5) What suggestions are recommended for future research on ICC? The findings expand upon learning contexts, participants, ICC-related topics, activities involved in ICC teaching and learning. Furthermore, this paper provides preservice and inservice teachers with valuable insights as well as suggestions and recommendations for teaching ICC in teacher education. This systematic research synthesis would be of value in developing and improving ICC-focused teaching and learning in English education.