Fostering intercultural competence through contextualized texts in EFL settings

Abstract

Intercultural competence and language proficiency are mutually dependant for effective foreign language learning/teaching. This paper puts forward a methodological proposal in which each lesson includes a carefully designed text which includes lexicogrammatical features that help relate the linguistic production to choices made at the extralinguistic level, and thus foster the development of cultural competence. The exploitation of the lesson’s script is done through fully contextualized activities which gradually familiarize learners with the use of the lexicogrammar for the negotiation of a specific situation proper to the target culture, and thus brings them up to act as interculturally competent speakers. The lesson is completed with a section aimed to reinforce the development of intercultural awareness by means of a number of cultural activities related to the lesson’s cultural topic.