Intercultural Understanding in Foreign Language Learning in an Indonesian Higher Education

Abstract This research paper aims to explore: a) learners‟ perceptions of intercultural understanding within foreign language learning; b) challenges to promote intercultural understanding within foreign language learning. This qualitative case study uses semi-structured interviews and observation of 15 learners who have participated in intercultural understanding training for six months. Data are analyzed through thematic analysis approach. The findings show that there are four categories of learners‟ perceptions on intercultural understanding: a) high support of intercultural understanding promotion; b) medium support of intercultural understanding; and c) low support of intercultural understanding. The finding of this study extends the debates of intercultural understanding issues within foreign language contexts. The implication of this study is that learners who have limited and non-supportive to promotion of intercultural understanding should be invited to intercultural understanding programs so that they become intercultural minded persons. Introductio