MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY --------------------------- NGO XUAN DIEU EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF SKYPE-BASED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCING THEIR INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT Major: English Language Course code: 60220201 HO CHI MINH CITY, DECEMBER 2022 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY --------------------------- EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF SKYPE-BASED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCING THEIR INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT Submitted to the Faculty of English Language in partial fulfillment of the Master’s degree in English Language Course code: 60220201 By NGO XUAN DIEU Supervised by TRAN QUOC THAO, Ph. HO CHI MINH CITY, DECEMBER 2022 The thesis entitled EFL STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF SKYPE- BASED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCING THEIR INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT was successfully defended and approved on March 2nd, 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH). Academic supervisor: Tran Quoc Thao, Ph. Nguyen Thi Kieu Thu, Ph.
Le Van Tuyen, Ph. Duong My Tham, Ph. Le Thi Thuy Nhung, Ph. Nguyen Ngoc Tran Chau, Ph.D Secretary Member On behalf of the Examination Committee Chair NGUYEN THI KIEU THU, Ph.D HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY POSTGRADUATE INSTITUTE HCMC, December 12th, 2022 MASTER’S THESIS REPORT Student name: NGO XUAN DIEU Gender: Male Date of birth: 01/9/1991 Place of birth: Binh Dinh Major: English Language Student code: 1941900002 I- Thesis title: EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF SKYPE-BASED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCING THEIR INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT II- Objectives and contents: This study aims at exploring the use of Skype-based interaction (SBI) for enhancing the intercultural intelligence (ICI) of EFL students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport (UTH), and the objectives are: ➢ To examine EFL students’ attitudes towards the use of SBI for enhancing the ICI at UTH; ➢ To explore the effects of the use of SBI on enhancing EFL students’ ICI.
III- Starting date: (as stated in the Decision issued by the University) IV- Completing date: December 12th, 2022 V- Academic supervisor: Tran Quoc Thao, Ph. ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR FACULTY DEAN TRAN QUOC THAO, Ph. NGUYEN THI KIEU THU, Ph.D CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I certify my authorship of the Master’s Thesis submitted today entitled: “EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF SKYPE-BASED INTERACTION FOR ENHANCING THEIR INTERCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT” In terms of the statement of requirements for Theses in Master’s programs issued by the Higher Degree Committee of the Faculty of English Language, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. Ho Chi Minh City, December 12th, 2022 NGO XUAN DIEU i RETENTION AND USE OF THE THESIS I hereby state that I, NGO XUAN DIEU, being a candidate for the Degree of Master of Arts (English Language), accept the requirements of the University relating to the retention and use of Master’s Theses deposited in the Library.
In terms of these conditions, I agree that the original of my Master’s Thesis deposited in the Library should be accessible for purposes of study and research, in accordance with the normal conditions established by the Librarian for the care, loan, and reproduction for theses. Ho Chi Minh City, December 12th, 2022 NGO XUAN DIEU ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who have supported, encouraged, and assisted me in completing my thesis. First of all, I would like to express my special appreciation and thanks to Dr. Tran Quoc Thao, my supervisor, for his great patience, careful guidance, insightful advice, and constant encouragement throughout the whole research process.
Without his support and guidance, this thesis would never have been completed. Secondly, I am grateful for the assistance and support of all lecturers and staff members of the Faculty of English Language of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, particularly Dr. Nguyen Thi Kieu Thu, as the Dean of the Faculty of English Language, as well as some staff members of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies, who have helped me greatly to complete this master's course. Thirdly, I would like to express my thanks to the school board staff, including the principal and the vice principals at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, who have given me encouragement, support in time and finances, and permission to implement this thesis there.
I thank all of the research participants, my students, who have contributed to this study. Last but not least, my deepest and sincerest gratitude goes to my family for their unconditional love, understanding, and help. I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my beloved family, who have provided me with strong spiritual and material support. NGO XUAN DIEU iii ABSTRACT In the age of technological advancements, the emergence of Skype, a form of social networking site, has been considered to significantly contribute to education in general and EFL students’ intercultural intelligence in particular.
Skype has been extensively used in numerous ESL/EFL contexts to enhance intercultural intelligence. In the context of Vietnam, however, Skype-based interaction for promoting EFL students’ intercultural intelligence seems controversial. This study, therefore, endeavors to examine EFL students’ attitudes towards the use of Sky-based interaction for enhancing intercultural intelligence and explore EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of using Sky-based interaction for enhancing their English language learning and intercultural intelligence at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport. This study involved 170 EFL students answering questionnaires and 10 EFL students responding to interviews.
The quantitative data collected from students' responses to the questionnaire survey were analyzed with the SPSS software version 26.0, whereas content analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data obtained from the semi-structured interview. The findings revealed that although research participants were conscious of the considerable benefits of intercultural intelligence and showed positive affection for Sky-based interaction, they still faced a dilemma about using Sky-based interaction to enhance intercultural intelligence. Such preliminary findings are hoped to contribute to a better understanding of the significant influence of the use of Sky-based interaction on intercultural intelligence and shed light on further research in the current context and other similar ones. Keywords: attitude, perception, Skype, Sky-based interaction, intercultural intelligence, EFL iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY.
i RETENTION AND USE OF THE THESIS. iv LIST OF TABLES. ix LIST OF FIGURES. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
x TABLE OF NUMBER OF WORDS. Background to the Study. Statement of the Problem. Aims and Objectives of the Study.
Scope of the Study. Significance of the Study. Definition of Key Terms. Organization of the Study.
6 CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW. Culture in English Language Teaching and Learning. Definition of ICI. Components of ICI.
The Importance of ICI in Communication. Activities for Teaching and Learning ICI. The Effectiveness of the Use of Skype-Based Interaction for Enhancing ICI. Attitudes towards the Use of Skype-Based Interaction.
Definition of Attitudes. Components of Attitudes. Perceptions of the Use of Sky-Based Interaction for Enhancing ICI. Sample and Sampling Procedures.
Semi-Structured interview. Data Collection Procedures. Data Analysis Procedures. 38 CHAPTER 4 - RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.
EFL Students’ Attitudes towards the Use of SBI for Enhancing ICI. 39 ● EFL Students’ Cognitive Attitudes towards the Use of SBI for Enhancing ICI. 40 vi ● EFL Students’ Affective Attitudes towards the Use of SBI for Enhancing ICI. 43 ● EFL Students’ Behavioral Attitudes towards the Use of SBI for Enhancing ICI.
EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI. 46 ● EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI in terms of Language skills. 47 ● EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI in terms of Cognition. 48 ● EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI in terms of Metacognition.
50 ● EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI in terms of Affection. 51 ● EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI in terms of Behavior. EFL Students’ Attitudes towards the Use of SBI for Enhancing ICI. EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Use of SBI on Enhancing ICI .2 Summary of the Main Findings of the Study .3 Implications of the Study .4 Limitations of the Study .5 Recommendations for Further Studies.
88 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Participants’ General Information .2: Interviewees’ General Information. Methods of data analysis in relation to the research questions and instruments .1: EFL students’ attitudes towards the use of SBI for enhancing ICI .2: EFL students’ cognitive attitudes towards the use of SBI for enhancing ICI .3: EFL students’ affective attitudes towards the use of SBI for enhancing ICI .4: EFL students’ behavioral attitudes towards the use of SBI for enhancing ICI.5: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI .6: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI in terms of Language skills .7: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI in terms of Cognition .8: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI in terms of Metacognition .8: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI in terms of Affection .9: EFL students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the use of SBI on enhancing ICI in terms of Behavior. 53 ix LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2. 27 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ICC : Intercultural Communicative Competence ICI : Intercultural Intelligence IC : Intercultural Communication SBI : Skype-based interaction UTH : Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport SPSS : Statistical Package for the Social Science ICT : Internet and Information and Technologies EFL : English as a Foreign Language ESP English for Specific Purposes TABLE OF NUMBER OF WORDS Chapter 1 1,889 words Chapter 2 6,046 words Chapter 3 2,677 words Chapter 4 5,049 words Chapter 5 1,099 words Total 16,760 words x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.
Background to the Study In the epoch of globalization, it is obvious that English has been used and considered an official international language or a lingua franca for communication by people of diverse and multilingual backgrounds (Tran Quoc Thao, 2017). Moreover, language and culture are widely recognized as being interdependent and closely related (Zhang, 2010). As Agar (1994) states that culture is in language, and language is filled with culture. That implies that language is an indispensable part of culture and also a form of cultural expression.
Kramsch (1998) also refers to language as a reflection, embodiment, and symbol of cultural reality. People of different cultural backgrounds will obviously have various forms of intercultural communication (IC). In order to determine intercultural intelligence’s (ICI) critical importance for EFL students, James and Shammas (2013) emphasize that language students in a culturally diverse society are able to communicate and expand intercultural knowledge, self- awareness, and identity in relation to other cultures at a realistic and professional level. Today, there is no doubt that education is one of the most beneficial aspects of human beings’ lives.
Education is not just to read and write but it is a process of learning new life skills and increasing our knowledge gained from books and practical life (Ajisoko, 2020). In fact, education actually enables us to lead happier and more successful lives. In the currently globalized context, the reality of English’s importance as an international language and a lingua franca cannot be forgotten or ignored, and it has been used for cross-cultural communication around the world (Tran Quoc Thao & Dang Van Hung, 2014).