• Cambridge Scholars Publishing

    "[Genetically Modified Organisms: A Scientific-Political Dialogue on a Meaningless Meme is] presents the debate associated with introducing GMOs as a traditional debate between science and progress against dogma. After reading it, I hope that science will win for the sake of all of us."

    - Professor David Zilberman, University of California at Berkeley

Intercultural Communicative Competence in English Language Teaching in Polish State Colleges

This volume provides a strong theoretical introduction to the field of intercultural communication, offering practical examples of classroom activities, as well as presenting empirical research which demonstrates that intercultural communicative competence (ICC) can be developed effectively in specially tailored courses adjusted to the needs of learners. It presents a novel model of intercultural sensitivity assessment, and outlines the results of research into intercultural communicative competence conducted among the students of English Language Studies in state colleges in Poland. The cultural component in developing ICC as an extra-linguistic determinant is assigned particular prominence in the book. A thorough analysis of the empirical material collected from participant observation, the administered questionnaires and interviews allowed the most common values and attitudes held as components of intercultural sensitivity to be identified. The obtained findings are subsequently analyzed to predict the potential areas of communication misunderstandings and failures between Polish learners of English and representatives of other cultures.


Piotr Romanowski is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw, Poland, and a Lecturer at Krosno State College, Poland. He received his PhD in Linguistics from the Jagiellonian University, Poland, and his main areas of scholarly interest include intercultural communication, second language acquisition, bilingualism and multilingualism. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bilingual Education, he has published numerous papers and (co-)edited three monographs.

"One of the major strengths of the book is that it contributes to the field of intercultural communication by providing a well-discussed and detailed theoretical background of IC and its development. It is an outstanding book, because the author included the works of Polish scholars, and several elements and examples of Polish language and culture. The book is a unique combination of theory, practice and research results. [...] The book is essential for scholars and researchers of linguistics interested in intercultural communicative competence development, because of its strong theoretical background providing several examples of scientific literature and the detailed description of the empirical research and its findings, which will inspire thinking, theorizing and action."

Associate Professor Tünde Bajzát Language Teaching Center, Miskolc University, Hungary LINGUIST List 28.4756

"This book has the important merits of providing a strong theoretical introduction to the field, offering practical examples of classroom activities and presenting empirical research which demonstrates the impact of work in the classroom. The book encompasses, therefore, what any language teacher needs who is seeking to develop both their knowledge of intercultural communicative competence and their pedagogic skills for implementing new teaching activities. […] This book is an important contribution, which will be valued in the original Polish context but also far beyond."

Michael Byram University of Durham, UK, and University of Luxembourg

"At a time when xenophobia is rising worldwide at alarming rates and the lack of understanding of diversity is leading to violent and regressive political action, this book comes as a much-needed reminder of the intrinsic value of intercultural sensitivity work at the most basic levels and for college students. The results are striking, as in so many of the areas where intercultural approaches are taken seriously, and are embodied, not least through ethnography. If we want to live in worlds where diversity is embraced, then this book shows us a way forward. It should be standard reading for college courses in the field in Poland."

Alison Phipps University of Glasgow, UK

"The study is definitely worth recommending. It provides a handy overview of various disciplines which inform the broad field of intercultural communication: cultural studies as such, studies of lingua franca, studies of intercultural competence as well as second language teaching. The author discusses relevant issues systematically and orderly and then brings in a well-prepared and administered research project of his own. The project examines the intercultural sensitivity of a good sample of Polish undergraduate college students prior to and after a course in Intercultural Communication. In a highly sophisticated statistical argument, the author demonstrates that their attitudes are significantly modified by their participation in the course towards more tolerance and less prejudice."

Władysław Chłopicki Jagiellonian University in Cracow and Krosno State College, Poland

Buy This Book

ISBN: 1-4438-7313-6

ISBN13: 978-1-4438-7313-0

Release Date: 16th March 2017

Pages: 205

Price: £61.99

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