[1] School of Foreign Languages- Can Tho University, Vietnam, e-mail: pttuyetvan@ctu.edu.vn, ORCID: 0000-0003-0410-1047
[3] School of Foreign Languages- Can Tho University, Vietnam, e-mail: ndkhang@ctu.edu.vn ORCID: 0000-0002-6121-7735
Abstract
Research on intercultural communication has long been recognized as crucial to the success of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. One of the central concerns in this field is the presence of barriers created by intercultural factors, which often lead to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns. This study investigates how stereotypes, ethnocentrism, and prejudice hinder international students’ ability to interact effectively in English classes, using seasons 1 and 2 of the sitcoms Mind Your Language as a contextual framework. The research design is descriptive, with students assuming the roles of characters from the series to simulate authentic intercultural encounters. A passive observational approach was employed, allowing qualitative interpretation of the episodes in terms of their similarities to real-world cultural challenges. The analysis revealed that numerous intercultural factors negatively affected learners’ cognitive abilities, particularly in language processing and adaptation to diverse communicative norms. These findings highlight the importance of addressing cultural barriers in EFL classrooms to foster inclusivity and mutual understanding. The study concludes with recommendations for teaching and learning English in Vietnam, emphasizing strategies that foster cultural awareness, reduce prejudice, and enhance learners’ communicative competence in multicultural settings.
Keywords: intercultural communication, stereotypes, ethnocentrism, prejudice, English as a foreign language
References
Barna, L. M. (1997). Stumbling blocks in intercultural communication. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (8th ed., pp. 337–346). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Bennett, M. J. (2013). Concepts of intercultural communication (3rd ed.). London: John Murray Press.
Byram, M. (2008). From foreign language education to education for intercultural citizenship: Essays and reflections. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Case, R. (1993). Key elements of global perspectives. Social Education, 57, 318–325.
Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1996). Intercultural communication competence: A synthesis. Annals of the International Communication Association, 19(1), 353–383. doi:10.1080/23808985.1996.11678 935
Cleary, S. (2008). Communication: A hands-on approach (3rd ed.). Lansdowne: JUTA.
Collins, C. S., & Stockton, C. M. (2018). The central role of theory in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1), 1-10. doi:10.1177/1609406918797475
Girik Allo, M. D. (2018). Intercultural communication in EFL classrooms. Ethical Lingua: Journal of Language Teaching and Literature, 5(2), 159–170. doi:10.30605/ethicallingua.v5i2.1036
Gudykunst, W. B. (2007). Cross-cultural and intercultural communication. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviours, institutions, and organizations across nations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Ilie, O.-A. (2019). The intercultural competence: Developing effective intercultural communication skills. In N. Balcescu (Ed.), International conference – The knowledge-based organization (pp. 264– 268). Sibiu: “Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy.
Jandt, F. E. (2021). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kateřina, Š. (2020). Perception in intercultural communication [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Faculty of Humanities, Tomas Bata University in Zlin.
Keating, C. F. (1994). World without words: Messages from face and body. In W. J. Lonner & R. S. Malpass (Eds.), Psychology and culture (pp. 175–182). New York, NY: Allyn & Bacon.
Keene, S. (2011). Social bias: Prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. The Journal of Law Enforcement, 1(3), 1–5. Retrieved from https://studylib.net/doc/8889363/social-bias–prejudice–stereotyping–and-discrimination
Kecskes, I. (2011). Intercultural pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kim, H., & Penry Williams, C. (2021). From language users to language use. In H. Kim & C. Penry Williams (Eds.), Discovering intercultural communication: From language users to language use (pp. 39–59). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-76595-8_3
Kite, M. E., Whitley, B. E., & Wagner, L. S. (2022). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Kurylo, A. (2012). Inter/cultural communication: Representation and construction of culture. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Liu, S., Volčič, Z., & Gallois, C. (2019). Introducing intercultural communication: Global cultures and contexts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Macionis, J. J. (1998). Society: The basics (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Matthews, L. C., & Thakkar, B. (2012). The impact of globalization on cross-cultural communication. In Globalization (pp. 1–10). Rijeka, Croatia: InTech.
Mohanthy, G. S. (2005). Modern sociology: Cultural sociology. New Delhi: Isha Books.
Myron, W. L., & Koester, J. (1993). Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Nagda, B. R., Tropp, L. R., & Paluck, E. (2006). Reducing prejudice and promoting social inclusion: Integrating research, theory, and practice on intergroup relations. Journal of Social Issues, 62(3), 439–446. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2006.00469.x
Ninvalle, C. (2004). Stereotypes. Toronto, Canada: Toucan Publishing.
Nunan, D. (2003). The impact of English as a global language on educational policies and practices in the Asia-Pacific region. TESOL Quarterly, 37(4), 589–613. doi:10.2307/3588214
Paige, R. M. (2013). Cultural mentoring: International education professionals and the development of intercultural competence. In D. K. Deardorff (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of intercultural competence (pp. 333–349). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Parvis, L. F. (2018). Understanding cultural diversity in today’s complex world. Houston, TX: Embrace Publications & Consulting.
Patel, F., Li, M., & Sooknanan, P. (2011). Intercultural communication: Building a global community. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Rabiah, S. (2018). Language as a tool for communication and cultural reality discloser. OSF Preprints. doi:10.31227/osf.io/nw94m
Rodriguez, G. A. (1999). Bringing up Latino children in a bicultural world. New York, NY: Fireside.
Samovar, L. A., & Porter, R. E. (2004). Communication between cultures (5th ed.). Beijing: Peking University Press.
Sapir, E. (1935). Communication. Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 4, 78–81.
Sarbaugh, L. E. (1993). Intercultural communication. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Starosta, J. W., & Chen, G. (2007). Foundations of intercultural communication. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Szkudlarek, B., Osland, J. S., Nardon, L., & Zander, L. (2020). Communication and culture in international business: Moving the field forward. Journal of World Business, 55(6), 1–9. doi:10.1016/j. jwb.2020.101126
Teng, L. Y.-W. (2005). A cross-cultural communication experience at a higher education institution in Taiwan. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 5(3). doi:10.36923/jicc.v5i3.414
Vita, G. D. (2001). Learning styles, culture and inclusive instruction in the multicultural classroom: A business and management perspective. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 38(2), 165–174. doi:10.1080/14703290110035437
Zhu, S. (2020). A study on affective barriers in intercultural communication and related strategies. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 10(12), 1651–1655. doi:10.17507/tpls.1012.20