Becoming Intercultural: Exposure to Foreign Cultures and Intercultural Competence

The article describes how many students come to university with experiences of living in or travelling to other countries and interacting with culturally different others in homeland and cyberspace. These experiences have prompted debates on whether intercultural competence still needs to be formally taught given advanced transportation facilities and communication technologies provide increasing opportunities to encounter foreign cultures. The present study examines the relationship between exposure to foreign cultures and intercultural competence of university students. Data were obtained from an online survey, administered to students in an Australian university. Results indicate that the experience of residing in foreign cultures is not necessarily a significant predictor of the perceived level of intercultural competence. People do not become interculturally competent by virtue of exposure to other cultures. Intercultural competence needs to be learned, hence justifying the importance of incorporating intercultural training in university curriculum