Literatur’s Role in Intercultural Competence Acquisition

Abstract

This thesis seeks to evaluate the effects of reading literature and how reading literature can develop intercultural competence. The thesis uses a qualitative narrative analysis of third-year university students who have completed an intercultural literature course (2ENL512-4) at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. The thesis utilizes a sociological cultural approach when discussing culture and analyzing culture, based on Per Morten Schiefloe’s concepts from his book Mennesker og Samfunn: Innføring i Sosiologisk Forståelse (2011). The evaluation and discussion of intercultural competence is drawn upon by that which is defined by The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training and the work of Michael Byram in his book Teaching and assessing intercultural communicative competence (1997). These two approaches make up the majority of the theoretical framework for the thesis. The project is heavily inspired by the study discussed by Carola Hecke in the book Children’s literature in second language education (2013). The method section for the thesis is based on Dennis Howitt’s book Introduction to qualitative research methods in psychology (2016). The discussion part of the thesis seeks to uncover the broader implication of the findings in light of the theoretical framework, past research, and what that means for the Norwegian classroom and society at large. Moreover, the discussion seeks to evaluate the potential benefits and obstacles of the current teaching of culture in the classroom concerning intercultural literature.

Keywords: Intercultural competence, literature and culture, mindsets and attitudes, cultural knowledge, skills and communication, narrative interview and analysis