Towards Building Intercultural Competence for Greek and International ERASMUS Students

Abstract

A key issue in language policy (LP) is the relationship between the concepts of policy and practice. This article discusses the role of the teaching method in classroom language practices in reshaping LP. It shows how the interplay of the hat sequence of Edward De Bono’s six thinking hats (1985) method could help to practically develop intercultural competence in away that raises critical cultural awareness (CCA) in a theoretically robust manner for Greek and incoming international ERASMUS students. Specifically, the article responds to the gap in the literature referring to the need to research policy issues within language practices offering some implications about the use of CCA as the underlying conceptualization of language teaching and learning which informs a LP that focuses on it in actual interactions among students. Parameters for further research in designing a comprehensive departmental intercultural competence LP are also offered.