Intercultural Competence Acquisition: A Formative Perspective

Usquiano M.M.; Torres E.J.; Castañeda S.O.; Montoya G.E. · Theory and Practice in Language Studies (2025) · DOI: 10.17507/tpls.1511.01

Resumen

—Intercultural competence must be developed in a transversal direction so that future graduates can coexist and achieve excellent labor performance. This research aims to describe the acquisition progression of intercultural competence in prospective translators and interpreters currently studying at a private university and its influence on an effective communication process. A quantitative approach was applied, and the study was a non-experimental cross-sectional design, given that the variables were not intentionally manipulated. Quantitative data from undergraduate students of the translation and interpreting school (n=51) was collected through a questionnaire validated by expert judgment regarding the construct, and Cronbach's alpha was applied to verify reliability, giving a result α=0.97. The results established through the analysis of the data collected by the intercultural competence questionnaire show that the participants have developed intercultural awareness at an intermediate level and cultural skills and sensitivity at a high level, evidencing that strategies should be implemented to accomplish a homogeneous development of intercultural competence. Findings undoubtedly demonstrate that students have overall acquired their intercultural competence at a high level so that they can manage all the cultural aspects from the source and target languages, possessing suitable intercultural awareness, skills, and sensitivity, which will effectively influence when they perform a translation process professionally, and guarantee effective communication.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo