The intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in the contexts of teaching English as a foreign language

Abstract

This article aims to provide a refiection on the way how the Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) has been understood in the processes of teaching a foreign language. To attain this goal, this text traces primarily what teaching a foreign language has been so far in the context of ELT [English Language Teaching]. This article then provides another refiection on what is implied when trying to bring the ICC into a foreign language teaching scenario. Finally, it provides an explanation on how to understand the ICC in the teaching of a foreign language through the lens of three concepts that are assumed in its definition: communication, language and culture.