The Inevitable Role of Literature in Building Intercultural Communication Competence among EFL Learners

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of English literature in building intercultural and interlingual communication among EFL learners. Language and culture is connected with each other, and these two factors cannot be separated or exist in isolation. Language plays a vital role in culture. Language and culture are bound together and it takes its possession, when people begin interacting with each other. Utilizing language means utilizing culture of language's country. In countries where English is used as foreign language, people who begin to use this language in their daily conversation, they tend to use it as in their general interaction without focusing on its cultural differences. Hence, it is suggested to use literature texts in an effort to fascinate learners to Literature are rich source of sociolinguistic aspects. It includes a wide range of idioms, regional dialects, jargon, argon and etc. This material can be applied in four skills, reading, listening, writing and of course speaking. Furthermore, as it reveals daily life of nations in a certain culture, it develops the awareness about of a certain culture and tend to form their own characteristics as well. Hence, the article is going to discuss in what way teachers can build the intercultural communication competence among EFL learners.