An Empirical Research On Intercultural Sensitivity Of Chinese College Students Of Ethnic Minorities

As a vital component of intercultural communication competence, intercultural sensitivity plays an important role in the successful intercultural communication process. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate the intercultural sensitivity to improve the intercultural communication competence. At present, the research of intercultural sensitivity mainly focuses on the influence on foreign language study and teaching in China. Based on the author's own study and live experience, the study deals with the Chinese ethnic minorities' intercultural sensitivity in the process of intercultural communication from a new angle. There are few researches using Chinese ethnic groups as samples to study intercultural results in the field of intercultural sensitivity even in intercultural communication. The author wants to probe it.In the beginning chapter, the research motivation and purpose are introduced in order to insure the vital role of inter-ethnic communication in the research of intercultural communication, the scope and main task of intercultural communication are emphasized and the general ethnic situation in China is depicted, all of which are to emphasize the significance of the study. Literature review seeks to introduce intercultural communication competence and intercultural sensitivity from the aspects of definitions, components, assessing tools and previous research abroad and at home. Based on the famous theories and research in the fields, four research questions have been developed and analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Firstly, the thesis develops a survey study at the northern university for ethnics. The research questionnaire were distributed to 70 freshmen of Uygurian, Mongolian, and Hui Minority, then the data was computed into SPSS.16 and got the data to analyze the reasons, finally, an interview was conducted among 15 students randomly selected to testify the results further. The results indicate that the level of ethnic students'intercultural sensitivity is moderate, and there is no significant difference among the three groups. The five dimensions of intercultural sensitivity influence each other. There are some factors influence intercultural sensitivity such as Chinese level, intergroup contact and customs. The last chapter makes a conclusion and gives suggestions. The research results have positive implication on bilingual education and ethnic education so as to enhance the ethnic minorities'intercultural communication competence, which is hoped to make contribution to stability and unity in ethnic regions.