The Development of Intercultural Competence in English Philology StudentsA Desirable Aim? An Attainable Goal?

Abstract

Intercultural communication and intercultural competence do not constitute an explicit component in the teacher training programmes of either prospective primary or secondary school EFL teachers in many Spanish universities. However, lecturers and professors at university agree on the development of intercultural competence as one of the most relevant skills and competence in English Philology students. This paper aims at showing that, in the absence of specific courses on the matter, prospective EFL teachers’ development of intercultural competence may be uneven and dependent on personal factors. Students’ current intercultural skills are here analysed at one university in Andalusia on the basis of their performance in class, in particular, in two activities carried out in an ELT methodology course which required a high degree of intercultural competence for their correct implementation.