Kültürlerarası yeterliliğin İngilizcenin ortak dil olarak kullanıldığı iş bağlamlarına yönelik öğrenimi ve öğretimi

Yetkin dil kullanıcısının yeni tanımına uygun olarak, 21. yüzyılda ikinci/ yabancı dil öğrencilerinden yalnızca dil yetkinliği değil aynı zamanda kültürlerarası yetkinliği kazanmaları ve bu yetkinliği geliştirmeleri beklenmektedir. Modern dünyamız uluslararası iletişimi gittikçe daha fazla gerekli kılarken, kültürlerarası yeterlilik olgusunun, ikinci ve yabancı dil öğrencilerinin daha etkin bir biçimde iletişim kurmalarına olanak sağladığı varsayılmaktadır. Bu nedenle, kültürlerarası yeterliliğe sahip dil öğrencisi kavramı, son yıllarda özellikle İngilizcenin iş yaşamında ortak bir dil olarak kullanıldığı (BELF), bireyler ve kuruluşların uluslararası iletişim kurdukları ve bu iletişimi sürdürmeye çalıştıkları bağlamlarda oldukça dikkat çekmiştir. Söz konusu bağlamın (BELF) dil yetkinliği ile ilintili kısımları ve iş alanına yönelik önemli boyutları ilgili literatürde çeşitli açılardan incelenmesine rağmen, bu bağlamlarda kültürlerarası yetkinlik kavramının nasıl sağlanabileceği hususu yeterli ölçüde ele alınmamıştır. Kültürlerarası yeterliliğin etkili iletişimde oynadığı başat rol göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, bu makalede, kültürlerarası yeterliliğin bahsi geçen bağlamlarda kültürlerarası farkındalık, bilgi, beceri ve yatkınlık gibi hususları desteklemek amacıyla nasıl ele alınabileceği tartışılmaktadır. Makalede, bahsi geçen amaçları gerçekleştirmenin olası yolları ve İngilizce öğrenenlerin kültürlerarası becerilerini geliştirmek için kullanılabilecek eğitimsel etkinlikler ele alınmaktadır. Ayrıca, bu makalede, müfredat tasarımcılarına, materyal geliştiren uzmanlara, iş İngilizcesi öğreten İngilizce öğretmenlerine ve bu bağlamda dil öğrenen öğrencilere kültürlerarası yeterliliği artırmak için yardımcı olabilecek uygulamaya yönelik birtakım öneriler sunulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Kültürlerarası yeterlilik, ortak dil olarak İngilizce, iş İngilizcesi, kültürlerarası öğrenme/öğretim

Addressing intercultural competence in BELF (English as a lingua franca in business) contexts

In line with the new definition of competent language user, the 21st-century second/foreign language learners are expected to acquire and develop not only linguistic competence but also intercultural competence. Intercultural competence is assumed to enable foreign/second language learners to communicate effectively in the modern era which increasingly calls for engaging in intercultural communication. Thus, within the last few decades, the notion of interculturally competent language learner has gained considerable attention particularly in English as a lingua franca in business (BELF) contexts where individuals and organizations establish and maintain international communication. Although fundamental linguistic and work-related features of BELF have been scrutinized in the relevant literature, the notion of intercultural competence in the BELF context has not been addressed thoroughly. Given the centrality of intercultural competence to establishing effective communication, this article discusses how intercultural competence can be enhanced in BELF classes to promote intercultural awareness, knowledge and skills and how dispositions of language learners toward intercultural learning can be fostered. It elaborates on the possible means of achieving these goals and tasks that can be used to hone intercultural skills of English language learners. Moreover, it provides curriculum designers, material developers, BELF teachers and English language learners with practical implications that could stimulate intercultural competence.

Keywords:

Intercultural competence, English as a lingua franca, business English, intercultural learning/teaching,

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