Arab World English Journal (AWEJ).Vol.6 No.1.2015                                                                  Pp.169-184
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol6no1.14

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The Road to Understanding Intercultural Sensitivity in English Language Teaching (ELT)
Pre-existing Frames for Intercultural Sensitivity

 Walead Etri
University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

 

 

Abstract
This study explored intercultural sensitivity in a natural English teaching environment in a Saudi Arabian university. A total of nineteen expatriate teachers took part in this case study. Descriptive qualitative data were generated through focus group discussions, interviews, observations and diary entries. Secondary data as well as anecdotal data were also used to describe the context of the study. The data showed that the context plays a major part in shaping the contextual frame of teaching and that all teachers bring to their work pre-existing biographical frames of reference for intercultural sensitivity. When these two relatively static frames converge in the ELT context, they essentially create a circumstance of discordance.
Keywords: cross-cultural communication, English Language Teaching (ELT), intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, TESOL, worldview

Cite as: Etri, W. (2015). The Road to Understanding Intercultural Sensitivity in English Language Teaching (ELT) Pre-existing Frames for Intercultural Sensitivity. Arab World English Journal, 8 (1).
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol6no1.14

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https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol6no1.14

Walead Etri holds a PhD in Education from the University of South Australia. His main
interests are the relationship between language and culture, and how this relationship affects
English teaching around the world. He has taught in Australia and while heading an English
department for the Saudi Arabian Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, he became drawn to
the importance of intercultural sensitivity in the English teaching context.