Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities

This study investigates the use of literary texts for intercultural learning using a Master course of English as a foreign language in Algeria as an empirical example. We first define essential concepts that guided this course - ‘culture’, ‘language-culture nexus’ and ‘intercultural competence’ - b...

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Main Authors: Lamia Nemouchi, Michael Byram
Format: Article
Language:Catalan
Published: Centre International de Phonétique Appliquée 2019-11-01
Series:Langue(s) & Parole
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistes.uab.cat/languesparole/article/view/56
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author Lamia Nemouchi
Michael Byram
author_facet Lamia Nemouchi
Michael Byram
author_sort Lamia Nemouchi
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the use of literary texts for intercultural learning using a Master course of English as a foreign language in Algeria as an empirical example. We first define essential concepts that guided this course - ‘culture’, ‘language-culture nexus’ and ‘intercultural competence’ - before we explain the socio-linguistic and socio-cultural context in Algeria, as it is the foundation of the choice of literary texts. The empirical study was an action research project that took place in two universities. We explain the research methodology and teaching methodology in which lessons were planned on the basis of Byram’s model (1997) of intercultural communicative competence. In the analysis we draw on the existing literature and extracts from the students’ discussions and worksheets to argue for the significance of using literary texts in encouraging ‘aesthetic reading’ leading to empathetic responses that were significant in developing intercultural communicative competence. Finally, we provide recommendations in terms of theory and practice for teachers and syllabus designers who intend to use literary texts for intercultural learning.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2466-7757
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language Catalan
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publisher Centre International de Phonétique Appliquée
record_format Article
series Langue(s) & Parole
spelling doaj-art-5b59021d0c2c43d48d41de92ac1d333c2025-01-30T05:19:30ZcatCentre International de Phonétique AppliquéeLangue(s) & Parole2466-77572684-66912019-11-01410.5565/rev/languesparole.56Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universitiesLamia NemouchiMichael Byram This study investigates the use of literary texts for intercultural learning using a Master course of English as a foreign language in Algeria as an empirical example. We first define essential concepts that guided this course - ‘culture’, ‘language-culture nexus’ and ‘intercultural competence’ - before we explain the socio-linguistic and socio-cultural context in Algeria, as it is the foundation of the choice of literary texts. The empirical study was an action research project that took place in two universities. We explain the research methodology and teaching methodology in which lessons were planned on the basis of Byram’s model (1997) of intercultural communicative competence. In the analysis we draw on the existing literature and extracts from the students’ discussions and worksheets to argue for the significance of using literary texts in encouraging ‘aesthetic reading’ leading to empathetic responses that were significant in developing intercultural communicative competence. Finally, we provide recommendations in terms of theory and practice for teachers and syllabus designers who intend to use literary texts for intercultural learning. https://revistes.uab.cat/languesparole/article/view/56Intercultural communicative competenceliterature and intercultural competenceliterary texts in translationaesthetic readingempathyliterature teaching
spellingShingle Lamia Nemouchi
Michael Byram
Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
Langue(s) & Parole
Intercultural communicative competence
literature and intercultural competence
literary texts in translation
aesthetic reading
empathy
literature teaching
title Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
title_full Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
title_fullStr Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
title_full_unstemmed Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
title_short Developing intercultural competence by teaching literature: principles and practice from a case-study in two Algerian universities
title_sort developing intercultural competence by teaching literature principles and practice from a case study in two algerian universities
topic Intercultural communicative competence
literature and intercultural competence
literary texts in translation
aesthetic reading
empathy
literature teaching
url https://revistes.uab.cat/languesparole/article/view/56
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AT michaelbyram developinginterculturalcompetencebyteachingliteratureprinciplesandpracticefromacasestudyintwoalgerianuniversities