An Investigation Into Intercultural Communication Competence Of Postgraduate Students Majoring In English Education

In second language learning and teaching,intercultural communicative competence(ICC)in English has been one of the ultimate goals with the globalization of economy.A number of researches have been conducted on the hot topic both at home and abroad and achieved great success,whether in theoretical or empirical researches.However,few researchers focus on the levels of postgraduates majoring in English education in intercultural communication competence as well as the cultivating.Actually,Postgraduates majoring in English education,with double identities,student and future teacher,play crucial roles to promote the realization of the goal.And the levels of postgraduates majoring in English education in intercultural communication competence will inevitably exert significant influences on their own development and future students.Therefore,based on the related researches,the present study takes postgraduates majoring in English education in Central China Normal University(CCNU)as participants,to figure out the current situation of their intercultural communication competence from intercultural knowledge,intercultural behavior and intercultural sensitivity,as well as their perceptions of intercultural communication and English education,and then the possible factors explored through the descriptive analysis with the help of SPSS 21.0,expecting to propose some feasible and achievable suggestions to enhance the intercultural communication competence of postgraduates majoring in English education.There are 98 postgraduates in CCNU participating in the test and questionnaire survey.The study tries to address the following research questions:1.What is the status quo of intercultural communicative competence level of postgraduates majoring in English education in China?2.What are their major perceptions on English education and the cultivating of intercultural communicative competence.3.What are the possible reasons for that current state?The major findings are summarized as follows:Firstly,the results of the study show that the current ICC level of postgraduates majoring in English education displays an unbalanced distribution in intercultural knowledge,behavior and awareness,sensitivity.Their intercultural sensitivity is on a highest level while the scores of intercultural knowledge and behavior do not achieve the medium level and need to be improved a lot.Secondly,most of the postgraduates majoring in English education believe that the cultivating of ICC has close relationship with English education and even the latter is very important for the former.However,in class,it is not often for teachers to develop students' ICC intentionally.Thirdly,insufficient instructions,the lack of an effective assessment system and passive learners' role are the possible reasons for the status quo.According to the research findings,some suggestions are proposed to improve ICC.Firstly,instructors are expected to realize the current level of ICC of postgraduates majoring in English education.Secondly,instructors should promote the further development of curriculum reform related to ICC.Thirdly,learners are expected to become more active in the course of the improvement of ICC.