لیلا امیری کردستانی

The relationship between intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and the speaking ability of language learners has been a focal point in foreign language education. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ICC and speaking ability as demonstrated by Iranian EFL learners in an online Advanced Communication course, as well as their perceptions of how it impacted their language learning needs and objectives. The research utilized an explanatory mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies for gathering and analyzing data. The testing group consisted of 154 undergraduate English language translation students, encompassing both male and female. Participants selected through convenience sampling. Data collection involved a homogeneity test, a speaking test evaluated by two raters, an ICC questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview. By employing Pearson Correlation and thematic analysis to analyze the data, the study unveiled a significant relationship between ICC and speaking ability, demonstrating potential benefits for both language learners and educators aiming to enhance linguistic and cultural speaking proficiency.

This study attempted to explore to what extent each of the three techniques of culture narratives, culture capsules and culture training activities significantly affect the critical cultural awareness of Iranian EFL learners by comparing their means from pretest to post-test questionnaire after ten-session treatment. Furthermore, it investigated whether there are any differences in the effectiveness of these techniques. Regarding the participants, the testing group was 154 undergraduate English language translation students, including both male and female students, forming three experimental groups. This investigation used the quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design. The sampling method was convenience sampling. The homogeneity test and a pre-post critical cultural awareness questionnaire were used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed through Repeated Measures ANOVA and Simple Effect Analysis. Based on the obtained results, there were significant differences between the pretest and the post-test, which means that by applying the techniques mentioned above, the critical cultural awareness of learners increased. Also, there were significant differences between the three groups’ overall means on pre-post critical cultural awareness questionnaires. Considering the three groups, culture narratives, culture capsule and culture training activities, the former outperforms the others. Furthermore, between culture training activities and culture capsule groups, the culture training activities group performed better than the culture capsule group.