KHẢ NĂNG GIAO TIẾP LIÊN VĂN HÓA CỦA DU HỌC SINH VIỆT NAM KHI HỌC TẠI CÁC NƯỚC PHƯƠNG TÂY

Abstract

Studying overseas has gaining ever-increasing currency among Vietnamese students because of its outstanding benefits, including intercultural competence development. To date, nonetheless, there have been few studies to explore intercultural competence of Vietnamese international students. In this study, intercultural competence of Vietnamese sojourners who study in Western countries is explored. The study adopted qualitative approach with conceptual framework being Deardorff’s model (2004). Unlike prior studies, the research also indicated that interactions with indigenous people are useful to achieve intercultural competence. Also, studying abroad just develop intercultural competence to some extent rather than generating positive effect only as previous study said. Sojourners could gain their intercultural competence to some degree thanks to individual factors like personality together with situational factors such as schooling, indigenous people and social activities. Although there exist certain cases that hold prejudice and have ethnocentrism, almost all Vietnamese students are open-minded, respectful and curious towards other cultures while acquiring knowledge to behave and communicate appropriately and effectively in intercultural contact. It is still recommended that trainings at academic institutions be conducted for intercultural competence realization. Key word: intercultural competence, sojourners, international students, Vietnam, study abroad, adaptation