An Investigation of EFL Teachers and Learners’ Attitudes Towards the Role of Using Drama in Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence

Abstract

In the context of English language education, Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) allows one to understand correctly and communicate successfully with representatives of the target language culture.The current study is thus an attemptto investigate the attitudes of the learners and teachers of English at Mohamed Seddik Ben Yahia University towards the use of drama and the role it plays in developing the learners’ICC. This research is based on the assumption that both the studentsand the teachers of English at the said university hold positive attitudes towards the use of drama todevelop the students’ intercultural communicative competence. To this end, the data was collected by means of two research instruments: a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire wasadministered to (59) first year Master students of English and the interview was conductedwith eight EFL teachers. Theanalysis and discussion of the research findings demonstrated that both EFL teachers and learners are for the use of drama in the teaching process to foster learners’ ICC. Therefore, aforementioned assumptionis confirmed.Finally, based on the results obtained, recommendations for further research were suggested.