Virtual reality for developing intercultural communication competence in Mandarin as a Foreign language

Abstract

Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is the ability to interact and communicate appropriately with people from different cultures. The lack of ICC among non-native speakers has resulted in misunderstandings during interactions. Although Malaysia is a multicultural country, there has not been much emphasis in developing ICC in the curriculum. Students in higher education institutions have low levels of ICC. This is also true among students taking Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL) in Malaysian polytechnics. Virtual reality (VR) can engage students in the cognitive and affective domains. There is a potential for using VR to improve students’ ICC, particularly when students are engaged in producing their own immersive VR environments. Hence, a quasi-experimental research was designed to determine whether utilizing and developing VR environments related to Chinese culture could improve the level of ICC among students. The participants were 31 students enrolled in a MFL course at a polytechnic. The findings indicated a significant increase in the measures of ICC after the implementation and was verified from student feedback through surveys and interviews. VR has the potential for improving ICC levels as it could be used to develop positive attitudes towards another culture. Further studies could be done to investigate whether VR could be used to develop ICC and engage other Malaysian students. ICC is important and needed for cross-cultural collaborations and interactions to promote respect and compassion for other cultures in a community.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Survey of students’ intercultural competence (SSIC)

Background

ICC knowledge

Please select the response that most accurately describes you for each statement and circle the appropriate number on the scale.

	Statement
A1	I know the layout of a typical Chinese house in Malaysia	1	2	3	4	5
A2	I know the general furnishing choices among Chinese for their living hall, such as furniture and worship setting	1	2	3	4	5
A3	I know the general furnishing choices among Chinese for their dining hall such as furniture and tableware	1	2	3	4	5
A4	I can name some common Chinese traditional collections in Chinese homes	1	2	3	4	5
A5	I can describe the Chinese life styles from the setting of their house	1	2	3	4	5
A6	I know the setting of the dinner table at a Chinese restaurant	1	2	3	4	5
A7	I can name Chinese cutlery (tableware) used in a Chinese restaurant	1	2	3	4	5
A8	I know the common interior decorations in Chinese restaurants	1	2	3	4	5
A9	I know basic Chinese table manners	1	2	3	4	5
A10	I can name a few common Chinese cuisine which is served in a Chinese restaurant	1	2	3	4	5
A11	I am familiar with the display at a Chinese herbal medicine shop	1	2	3	4	5
A12	I can name some common Chinese herbs which are available in a Chinese traditional herbal medicine shop	1	2	3	4	5
A13	I can name some famous herbal soup which are available in pre-packaged form in a Chinese herbal medicine shop	1	2	3	4	5
A14	I know the function of some Chinese herbs	1	2	3	4	5
A15	I know the different types of herbal processors which are used in a Chinese herbal shop	1	2	3	4	5
A16	I know how some herbs for medicines are cut and packed for sale	1	2	3	4	5
A17	I can experience the effort in doing Chinese calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
A18	I can name four primary tools used in Chinese calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
A19	I can name different scripts/styles of Chinese calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
A20	I know the correct way of grasping the Chinese brush in Chinese calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
A21	I know the different format of calligraphy which is usually displayed on the wall	1	2	3	4	5
A22	I can tell the value of the art in Chinese calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
A23	I can describe the common layout of a prayer hall in Chinese temples	1	2	3	4	5
A24	I can describe the common external features of Chinese temples	1	2	3	4	5
A25	I know the basic ritual of worship in a Chinese temple	1	2	3	4	5
A26	I can name six types of Chinese tea	1	2	3	4	5
A27	I know the equipment used in a Chinese tea ceremony	1	2	3	4	5
A28	I can tell the process of drinking Chinese tea/Chinese tea ceremony	1	2	3	4	5
A29	I can tell the significance of serving Chinese tea in Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5

1. 1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

ICC skills

Please select the response that most accurately describes you for each statement and circle the appropriate number on the scale.

	Statement
B30	I can identify the differences between the Chinese house and my own house in terms of furnishing	1	2	3	4	5
B31	I am able to contrast the practices of table manners in Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
B32	I am able to identify the position of the cutlery used during a Chinese meal	1	2	3	4	5
B33	I can tell the difference between the art of Chinese calligraphy and the art of writing in my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
B34	I am able to differentiate the style of writing Chinese calligraphy with that in my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
B35	I am able to contrast the layout of the Chinese temple and the mosque/church in my culture in terms of architecture	1	2	3	4	5
B36	I am able to compare the prayer section of the Chinese temple with that in my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
B37	I know where to get the ingredients to make a soup with Chinese herbs	1	2	3	4	5
B38	I am able to compare the Chinese traditional medicine with the traditional medicine in my culture	1	2	3	4	5
B39	I am able to participate in a Chinese tea drinking ceremony	1	2	3	4	5
B40	I can experience the process of drinking Chinese tea	1	2	3	4	5
B41	I can employ appropriate strategies (such as internet websites, YouTube, books, VR photos or videos) to elicit the information of Chinese culture from various sources	1	2	3	4	5
B42	I can use my knowledge of Chinese culture to overcome the misunderstanding/stereotypes towards the Chinese culture by the people of my own race	1	2	3	4	5

1. 1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neural; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

ICC attitudes

Please select the response that most accurately describes you for each statement and circle the appropriate number on the scale.

	Statement
C43	I am interested in discovering information on Chinese culture such as Chinese calligraphy, Chinese herbs, tea ceremony, restaurants, temples, and others	1	2	3	4	5
C44	I can appreciate the cultural elements at a Chinese temple	1	2	3	4	5
C45	I am confident in exploring the cultural differences between Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
C46	I am curious in experiencing the true Chinese culture in my daily life	1	2	3	4	5
C47	I am interested in discovering other people’s perspectives of Chinese cultural practices	1	2	3	4	5
C48	I respect the practices of Chinese traditional culture by the Chinese in my neighbourhood	1	2	3	4	5
C49	I accept that there are cultural differences between Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
C50	I am ready to cope with the differences between Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
C51	I am willing to clarify to others who misunderstood some of the Chinese cultural practices	1	2	3	4	5

1. 1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neural; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

ICC awareness

Please select the response that most accurately describes you for each statement and circle the appropriate number on the scale.

	Statement
D52	I recognize the uniqueness of different cultures	1	2	3	4	5
D53	I am sensitive towards the cultural features shown in different cultures	1	2	3	4	5
D54	I am aware of the values in Chinese culture from the cultural practices/activities such as Chinese table manners, tea ceremony and calligraphy	1	2	3	4	5
D55	I am aware of the significance of the practice of traditional Chinese culture among Chinese people	1	2	3	4	5
D56	I am aware of the cultural distinction between Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
D57	I perceive the potential conflicts that may arise from the different perspectives on certain cultural aspects	1	2	3	4	5
D58	I am conscious of the aspects of Chinese culture which are prohibited in my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
D59	I am able to reach an understanding of the stereotypes towards Chinese culture that may arise from my own culture	1	2	3	4	5

1. 1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neural; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

Appendix 2

Survey on learning Chinese culture through VR technologies

(A) Please select the response that most accurately describes you for each statement and circle the appropriate number on the scale.

1	The VR images were very attractive	1	2	3	4	5
2	I am interested in using VR technologies in exploring Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
3	The VR images are practical for the learning of Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
4	The VR technologies are effective for the learning of Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
5	The use of VR in the process of teaching and learning helps in better understanding of Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
6	The VR images provided sufficient Chinese cultural information	1	2	3	4	5
7	The used of VR helped to improve my exposure on Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
8	The used of VR in cultural learning increased my awareness of intercultural understanding	1	2	3	4	5
9	The discovery of Chinese culture through VR technologies stimulated my intercultural awareness	1	2	3	4	5
10	I became more aware of the conventional/traditional cultural practices and cultural features in Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
11	Through the VR activities, I am able to search for the information on Chinese culture	1	2	3	4	5
12	I became more curious towards Chinese culture and my own culture	1	2	3	4	5
13	I have met the course learning outcomes	1	2	3	4	5

1. 1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

(B) Please elaborate in detail and provide your feedback on following aspects.

• 1. Is this the first time you are using a VR viewer for VR images and videos? What are the new experiences you have gained from the VR technologies in learning Chinese culture?

• 2. How are the VR technologies beneficial to you in learning Chinese culture? (Please reflect on your experience in exploring the Chinese restaurant, Chinese house, Chinese tea ceremony, Chinese herbal shop, Chinese temple and Chinese calligraphy center using VR technologies, in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes and intercultural awareness).

• 3. Describe the significance of some of the cultural elements which you tagged in your VR tour, to the Chinese? Reflect on these cultural elements? Did you obtain any new insights? (Examples of cultural elements: the koi fish, the lantern, porcelain, tea ceremony).

• 4. What other Chinese cultural content would you like to learn and explore with VR?

• 5. What problems did you encounter when using the VR technologies for learning Chinese culture?

• 6. Would you recommend the use of VR technologies as being an effective method for learning of culture in Mandarin as a foreign language? Why?

• 7. Is there any additional feedback/anything else you would like to share.