LEARNERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS SKYPE-ASSISTED INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE LEARNING

Abstract

Equipping learners with intercultural intelligence is one of the objectives of English language teaching and learning in the globalisation; however, it is observed that many English language learners cannot interact with foreigners well in multicultural contexts due to a lack of intercultural intelligence. This paper presents the results of a mixed methods study which aims to investigate English as a foreign language learners’ attitudes towads Skype-assisted intercultural intelligence learning. A cohort of 170 learners, who had finished the course of Skype-assisted intercultural intelligence learning, took part in answering the questionnaire, and ten of them participated in the interviews. The gained data were analysed in terms of descriptive statistics and content analysis. The findings revealed that learners had positive attitudes towards Skype-assisted intercultural intelligence learning. Regarding three components of attitudes, learners were found to have good knowledge, positive sentiments, and active behaviors towards Skype-assisted intercultural intelligence learning. Based on these preliminary findings, some pedagogical implications are recommended for improving the quality of intercultural intelligence teaching and learning in the research context and other similar ones.