Intercultural Sensitivity: An Empirical Study of Iranian EFL Learners

Abstract

All communication takes place in the matrix of culture; therefore difference in culture is the primary obstacle to intercul­tural communication. When we look at the major aspect of intercultural communication competence, we notice that intercultural sensitivity has gained increasing attention in different disciplines. Accordingly, the present study sought to evaluate the intercultural sensitivity of Iranian EFL learners. For this purpose, 60 participants from different professions and age groups completed an instrument comprising 5 factors with 24 items developed in the United States, by Chen and Starosta for measuring intercultural sensitivity. Subsequently, in this study Chen and Starosta’s instrument was tested in an Iranian sample by using confirmatory factor analysis. Overall, the results showed that the instrument holds satisfactorily. Although the results also suggested that the operationalization of the concepts in the instrument can be further improved, the instrument as a whole is a valid one through which a culture-free scale for measuring intercultural sensitivity can be developed.