In the domain of higher education pedagogy, the role of Intercultural Communication English course, as a critical component of the series of college English courses, is increasingly pivotal for preparing students for professional communication in academic research and globalized workplaces. This research provides a comprehensive exploration into the pedagogical design, implementation, and outcomes of a blended-learning paradigm tailored for ‘Intercultural Communication English’ course, which is meticulously designed for non-English major EFL students at a prominent Chinese university. At the heart of this pedagogical design lies the incorporation of the Production Oriented Approach (POA), a methodology that emphasizes practical application, learner autonomy, and real-world relevance. The course seamlessly integrates traditional face-to-face instruction with a diverse array of digital learning modalities, including online learning modules, interactive multimedia exercises, app-based environments, and collaborative feedback mechanisms. Using a mixed-methods approach the primary objective is to enhance students’ pragmatic linguistic competencies, ensuring they are well-equipped for cross-cultural contexts. Quantitative results showed a significant improvement in students’ intercultural communication skills, with post-test scores in language proficiency increasing by 18% and a 25% improvement in their ability to apply intercultural knowledge in practical scenarios. Qualitative feedback revealed that 85% of students felt more confident in cross-cultural communication, and 78% reported that the blended learning environment enhanced their engagement and motivation. Preliminary findings, derived from both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback, suggest that the integration of the POA within a blended-learning framework not only results in enhanced linguistic proficiency, multicultural awareness, and intercultural communication competence, but also fosters a more engaged and interactive learning environment. This study offers valuable insights into the pedagogical design, its theoretical underpinnings, and its implications for EFL educators and curriculum designers.
Published in | Abstract Book of ICSSH2024 & EDUINNOV2024 |
Page(s) | 8-8 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access abstract, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Production Oriented Approach, Blended Learning, EFL Instruction, Intercultural Communication, Higher Education