Measuring EFL learners cultural knowledge and intercultural sensitivity

Abstract EN

The tendency towards globalization has affected every aspect of our life and has raised the value of being competent in interacting and communicating effectively with other individuals who are from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Accordingly, cultural knowledge and intercultural sensitivity have become a strong demand in order to live peacefully and meaningfully in nowadays' diverse world.

Therefore, the current study attempted to investigate EFL learners' cultural knowledge and intercultural sensitivity.

To reach this objective, Kenji Kitao's test of American cultural knowledge and Chen and Starosta's Intercultural Sensitivity Scale have been used.

The subjects were 68 second year learners who were studying at the English department at the University of jijel.

The findings reveal that the learners' cultural knowledge about the target language culture was average; however, their intercultural sensitivity was poor.