1. The importance of intercultural competence in language education
Paul Catteeuw
Iasį (EuroEd), 25 June 2009

3. Why? In society Within the university Changing society
Integration Knowledge Competence (thinking) (doing)
Flemish government
Here and there
Critical factor for success
Within the university
Renewal curriculum
Competence based
Necessity of the subject:
Society
Business
Education
accreditation of the training
Social constructivism
Critical factor for success

4. Changing world Evolution Labour migration > asylum migration
unicultural homogeneous society (20th c.) > diverse & multicultural society (21st c.)
Changing/changed demographic scene
Prognosis 2050:
From 10-15% to 30% people with different cultural background

5. Migrants in Belgium Italy 286.000 (2,7%) Morocco 265.000 (2,5%)
France (1,5%)
Turkey (1,5%)
Netherlands (1,2%)
Total (15%)
Belgium

8. Intercultural contacts
Here
There

9. Necessity labour market
Contact with different cultures
Own (social) environment (HERE)
Own working climate (HERE)
Colleagues, employer, subordinates
Manuals, working methods
Contacts with other companies (THERE)
Domestic (corporate culture)
Abroad (trade contacts)
Holidays (THERE): travel guides

10. What? Contents Training intercultural competence
Theoretical basis
Practical learning and reflection
Interaction culture - communication
Basic competence
Business: from contact to contract

11. NO TRAINING

12. TRAINING

13. Competence Definition competence A competence is the integrated use of
KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS
ATTITUDES
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
to carry out correctly a certain task or to solve problems in a specific professional situation

15. Basic Intercultural Competence
‘I am a critical and conscious citizen (1) and I can function flexibly (3) and interculturally (3) in an open and respectful manner (2) in the multicultural and diverse society (6) in which I live (4) and work (5)’
The right to differ

17. Levels in acquiring competence Miller’s Triangle
Karel de Grote-Hogeschool Antwerpen
Levels in acquiring competence Miller’s Triangle
Proficiency: applying
competence
Advanced: understanding through exercise
Basic: knowing + knowing how

18. Language The main form of communication in all its forms
Spoken language
...
Non-verbal communication
Which language?
Romanian? Dutch? English?
Which English?
Which register

19. Ikea
Niet zo gek, die Zweden!
Ils sont fous, ces Suédois
(Moldova)

20. Mental programming (Hofstede)
Personality:
inbred and taught
Communication:
differences between people
Culture:
what we do with human nature is taught
= nurture
problematic layer
Human nature:
everything which is inbred
= nature
no problems

21. Different cultures Possibilities of classification
National/regional cultures
From national and linguistic frontiers to cultural frontiers
Social cultures
Gender, social classes, birth, sexual inclination, …
Group cultures
Family, company, school, …
Claes en Gerritsen, Culturele waarden en communicatie in internationaal perspectief, 2002

22. Icebergmodel Noticeable : WORDS Symbols, heroes, rituals
Not noticeable: MEANING OF WORDS
Values and norms

23. Lingua franca Objective point of view
“Landeskunde” from different point of view
Critical awareness
Respect
Intercultural competence > intercultural communication
Language of understanding