Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence through Expository and Non-expository Writings

Abstract

I oppose the proposal of the Prime Minister's Commission on Japan's Goals in the 21st Century that English should be another official language in Japan, since it ignores the fact that culture and language are inextricably interwoven. Language serves as tool for communication and reflects the values held by native-speakers of that language. Contrary to Japanese values, the English language tends toward reductive reasoning, mutual-confrontation, respect for both explicitness and the truth. The Commission based its proposal on the belief that ethnocentrism should be avoided, yet encourages both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism among the Japanese. Making English another official language will not help. Since language reflects culture, what is needed is the development of intercultural communicative competence. This in turn requires the development of critical thinking skills. This can be achieved through expository and non-expository writing assignments, as well as conference. Such writing assignments and conference can empower students to adapt to or integrate with other value systems.