Abstract:
This study examines the effect of a proposed course on the communicative competence of study-abroad advanced-level learners studying Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) in terms of: 1) intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and 2) the recognition and production of Arabic language varieties. The proposed course interrelates Egyptian culture to Arabic language varieties used by Egyptians. The course proposes a linguacultural framework that focuses on the humanistic dimension of culture through which different varieties are investigated. It was hypothesized that upon taking a pilot course, participants' recognition and production of Arabic varieties would develop, as well as their ICC abilities. It was not expected that there would be significant progress in participants' overall ICC due to the limited duration of the pilot course; however, the main focus was on the four dimensions of ICC (knowledge, attitude, skills, and awareness) to detect the area of maximum progress. Results demonstrated significant development in participants' abilities to recognize as well as produce Arabic varieties used in Egypt. Results also detected significant development in three elements of participants' ICC abilities (knowledge, attitude, and skills), while awareness development occurred but the difference was not significant.
