4。4 Reflection Meeting 9

V。 Discussion 10

VI。Conclusion 11

I。 Introduction

One of the most prominent traits of 21st century is globalization。 With closer cooperation between countries in various fields, more and more people start their careers in global working places such as multinational corporations, non-government organizations and international organizations。 So intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is considered as one of the most important soft skills in intercultural global working places。论文网

Many researchers have done prominent investigations of ICC in different fields like management, English teaching, exchange projects and academic courses in universities and so on。 In terms of English language teaching and learning at university level, one of main aims is to develop students’ intercultural communicative competence。 In addition, universities and academic institutions provide many opportunities for students to go abroad and gain international experience。 Many students take part in some international volunteering activities to enrich their academic career as a global citizen。

This paper is based on a voluntary exchange project organized by AIESEC, a non-government organization (NGO), which aims to develop youth global leadership by providing full-immersion exotic volunteer experiences。 The research examines workshops along with the reflection during voluntary experiences by using Intercultural Behavioral Assessment Indices (IBAI)。 The focus is on how participants’ intercultural communicative competence is developed during the internship experience in AIESEC and what kind of intercultural communicative skills volunteers have acquired during the volunteer experience。 In Carmela’s research (2015), ICC would not develop itself without systematic training。 As a member of 2014 group, the author’s own experience serves as a good example of how ICC is developed throughout the program。 Furthermore, though subjective it may be, the author’s personal experience would be an inspiration for those who have engaged in international projects, urging to find ways to adapt to global village。

2。 Intercultural Communicative Competence

 Today intercultural communication is no longer a new term。 And we frequently engage in intercultural communicative activities without even being aware of them。 For instance, travelers, exchange students, businessmen whoever go abroad or work with foreigners could be all considered as intercultural communication participants。 Besides, reading foreign novels or watching foreign movies is also a way of intercultural communication。 Since we have different cultural backgrounds with movie actors, the process which acquires understanding seems to be a way of intercultural communication。 All in all, intercultural communication, therefore, could be defined as the communicative process which involves people from different cultural backgrounds。 

2。2 Intercultural Communicative Competence文献综述

The intercultural communication competence can be defined as the ability to interact effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations (Kim, 2001)。 It becomes the most demanding skills in many managerial positions。 The study of intercultural communicative competence has a short history of 50 years。 However, ICC is quite a common and long-term cultural phenomenon (Hu Wenzhong, 1994)。 Kim argues that ICC is “located within a person as his or her overall capacity or capability to facilitate the communication process between people from differing cultural backgrounds and to contribute to successful interaction outcomes。”(McRae and Ramji, 2011)。 From an instrumental-rational perspective, ICC could be defined as the ability to interact effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations, based on specific attitudes, intercultural knowledge, skills and reflection (Kim, 2001)。 Though much progress has been made of ICC since Hall, and a satisfactory model of ICC and a scale that translates well into different cultures is yet to be developed (Deardorff, 2006)。 Besides, seven elements (display of respect, interactional posture, orientation to knowledge, empathy, role behaviors, interaction management and tolerance of ambiguity) of Ruben’s Intercultural Behavior Assessment Indices(IBAI) do provide authentic assessment criterions for researchers (Arasaratnam & Doerfel, 出版年份)。 Moreover, investigations of travelers living abroad suggest that people may experience cultural stress in intercultural communication。 For instance,“Culture shock refers to the anxiety or stress that is caused by being in a new and foreign environment and the absence of the familiar signs and symbols of the home country。 Culture shock may also result because of a person's ethnocentric attitude。 Ethnocentrism is a belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture”(Ruben，1976)。 Therefore ICC could also be defined as a practical discipline which helps people hold a more tolerant and positive attitude towards challenges (Zhang Hongling, 2007)。