TEACHING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH FOR TOURISM CLASSES IN VIETNAM: TEACHERS’ PRACTICES AND PERCEPTIONS
Vol. 133 No. 6B (2024), Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Vol. 133 No. 6B (2024)

TEACHING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH FOR TOURISM CLASSES IN VIETNAM: TEACHERS’ PRACTICES AND PERCEPTIONS

Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
https://doi.org/10.26459/hueunijssh.v133i6B.7267
Published 2024-05-09
Thu Trang Tran
Nha Trang University

Abstract

The study explores Vietnamese EFL teachers’ practices and beliefs about intercultural communicative competence (ICC) for tourism majors. Fifteen observations were conducted in their English for Tourism Purposes (ETP) classes at three institutes in Central Vietnam. The teachers were then interviewed in a semi-structured format to examine the beliefs underlying their ICC teaching practices. The findings showed that the teacher’s practices focused on language skills and tourism-related knowledge. Their teaching of ICC was treated as a minor goal, but when they taught ICC, they emphasized the linguistic, cognitive and behavioural facets over others. Their practices were led by their beliefs in the importance of preparing students for their course assessment and future occupations. The study provides essential implications for ICC education in the tourism domain.

https://doi.org/10.26459/hueunijssh.v133i6B.7267
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