The Correlation between Digital Multicultural Content Exposure and Intercultural Communicative Competence of EFL Learners in Universitas Negeri Semarang

Abstract

In the context of digital globalization, English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners are able to access informal digital spaces publishing various cultural content. The objective of the research is to explore if a positive relationship exists between exposure to multicultural digital media and Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) among EFL learners. This research was quantitative with a descriptive-correlational approach, which includes the forty undergraduates of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) who were surveyed using Likert-scale questionnaire. The results have shown that the correlation between the two variables was positive and moderate ability (> r = 0.674, p = 0.000 < 0.05) which means, it is believed that more intensive students engage in multicultural contents by digital technology, so much better achievement of students’ intercultural awareness and skills they would have in such manner. The implications of the research are that informal digital learning should be considered as a positive pedagogical strategy to enhance students’ formal intercultural education in the EFL context.