Foreign language learners’ self-perceived proficiency and intercultural competence: Mediating roles of quantity and quality of intercultural interactions

IF 2.4 2区社会学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Pub Date : 2025-05-17 DOI:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102206

Jiajun Li , Fangfang Yuan , Steve Kulich

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Abstract

This study investigates the predictive role of perceived foreign language proficiency on students’ intercultural competence, with a focus on the mediating effects of the quantity and quality of intercultural interactions. Data were collected through a survey of 432 Chinese university students and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results reveal three key findings: (1) perceived foreign language proficiency had a significant predictive effect on students’ intercultural competence; (2) the quality of intercultural interactions mediated the relationship between foreign language proficiency and intercultural competence; and (3) the quantity and quality of intercultural interactions played a chain-mediating role in this relationship. These findings underscore the importance of fostering meaningful intercultural interactions in foreign language education and provide valuable insights for enhancing intercultural competence teaching practices.

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外语学习者自我感知能力与跨文化能力：跨文化互动数量和质量的中介作用

本研究探讨了感知外语能力对学生跨文化能力的预测作用，重点探讨了跨文化互动数量和质量的中介作用。通过对432名中国大学生的调查收集数据，并使用结构方程模型进行分析。研究发现：(1)感知外语能力对学生跨文化能力有显著的预测作用；(2)跨文化互动的质量在外语水平和跨文化能力之间起中介作用；(3)跨文化互动的数量和质量在这一关系中起着链式中介作用。这些发现强调了在外语教育中培养有意义的跨文化互动的重要性，并为加强跨文化能力教学实践提供了有价值的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Multiple-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

14.30%

发文量

122

期刊介绍： IJIR is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of theory, practice, and research in intergroup relations. The contents encompass theoretical developments, field-based evaluations of training techniques, empirical discussions of cultural similarities and differences, and critical descriptions of new training approaches. Papers selected for publication in IJIR are judged to increase our understanding of intergroup tensions and harmony. Issue-oriented and cross-discipline discussion is encouraged. The highest priority is given to manuscripts that join theory, practice, and field research design. By theory, we mean conceptual schemes focused on the nature of cultural differences and similarities.