Using the Interdisciplinary Approach to Enhance Students’ Intercultural Communication Competence in English Language Training Program
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Abstract
Establishing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relationships between neighboring universities is not easy. With this uneasiness, there exists a need for a more mindful collaboration approach between different educational institutions in ASEAN. Therefore, this trial research project was created to establish better networking, resource development, joint research projects cooperation, expertise sharing, and student development. It aimed to investigate the effectiveness of interdisciplinary approach on students’ intercultural communication competence. The research participants were eight Lao teachers and twenty Lao students from a government college, Lao PDR. Data were collected using a set of questionnaires and video observation. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed for descriptive statistics. In terms of qualitative data, content analysis techniques were utilized. Findings revealed that the participants had positive attitudes towards the use of interdisciplinary approach and multilingualism to enhance their intercultural communication competence. It allowed them to have language switching and knowledge integration from different areas of disciplines for better understanding of different cultures. Findings also further suggest that developing student and teacher exchange projects along with joint research projects between educational institutes can help stimulate inter-tertiary dialoging, sharing resources and collaboration that may lead to more sustainable development between ASEAN countries.
Keywords: Interdisciplinary Approach, Intercultural Communication, Language Training Program, Multilingualism
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