Kültürlerarası İletişim Yeterliliğinin Çocuklara İngilizce Öğretimine Entegrasyonu Eğitimi

This project aimed to raise the awareness of pre-service English Language Teaching (ELT) teachers regarding the importance of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in teaching English to young learners. In today’s world, where internet-based communication technologies have significantly increased intercultural interaction and global connectivity, language learning can no longer be limited to the acquisition of linguistic knowledge alone. Since language and culture are inseparable, effective communication in a foreign language also requires intercultural awareness and sensitivity. Accordingly, culture has become an integral component of foreign language education and is widely recognized as a fundamental dimension of language teaching.

The project particularly focused on the integration of intercultural competence into teaching English to children. Developing intercultural awareness at an early age is considered essential for fostering tolerance, empathy, and effective communication across cultures. In this regard, foreign language teachers and teacher educators play a crucial role in equipping learners with intercultural communication skills. However, within ELT programs in Türkiye, courses specifically focusing on intercultural communicative competence remain limited and are often offered only as electives. Therefore, there is a growing need to support pre-service teachers with additional academic and pedagogical training in this field.

Supported by TÜBİTAK, the project was designed as a three-day educational event bringing together third- and fourth-year ELT students from different universities across Türkiye. The program consisted of both theoretical sessions and interactive workshops aimed at helping participants understand the pedagogical significance of intercultural competence in teaching English to children. Through collaborative activities, discussions, and practical applications, participants were encouraged to develop awareness of cultural diversity and explore ways of integrating intercultural elements into language teaching practices. The project also sought to create an academic platform for knowledge exchange and professional development among future English language teachers.