Intercultural Sensitivity: A Comparison of English Majors’ value preference in Taiwan and China

[[abstract]]本研究旨在調查臺灣與中國兩校英語主修學生跨文敏感度並比較兩校學生表現之異同。參與學生為臺灣南部一所科技大學157位應用外語系英文組學生和179位中國海南一所大學英語系學生。研究工具為修改自Chen & Starosta (2000)發展的跨文化敏感度量表18題，以李克特氏五點量表計分。結果顯示，兩校學生於跨文化敏感度的整體表現優秀，平均分數都高於3.7，兩校學生的交際自信心均低（平均分數3.01 和3.02），屬於中等。臺灣的學生得分最高的向度依次是交際參與度、尊重文化差異和交際愉悅感；中國的學生得分最高的向度依次是交際愉悅感、尊重文化差異及交際參與度。有關跨文化經驗上，臺灣學生比起中國學生有較多的國外旅遊和遊學經驗，然而t檢定比較下，海南大學生交際愉悅度顯著高於臺灣大學生，比較其他5種跨文化經驗的變項，發現跨文化經驗顯著影響著跨文化交際自信和參與度，但交際愉悅度則不然，有海外居住和旅遊經驗者未必感受到跨文化交際的愉悅。就此，臺灣學生的意見則希望學校不只是鼓勵出國遊學或留學，最好能提供跨文化培訓課程，讓他們在與外國人交流之前能有一定的準備，面對文化衝擊時也能妥善解決。研究者建議兩校學生雖然有高跨文化敏感度，若為有效進行跨文化溝通，則學校在語言課程中，及鼓勵學生參與跨文化交流的活動前，提供跨文化培訓課程。 The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences and similarities on Intercultural sensitivity between English majors from Taiwan and China. The population contains 157 English majors from a university of technology in southern of Taiwan and 179 English majors from Hainan, China. Adjusted Intercultural sensitivity scale by Chen & Starosta (2000), a 5-point Liker type instrument, containing 18 items grouped into four main constructs, was used and several demographic variables were also investigated. Results indicated that students from both schools performed high score on Intercultural sensitivity scale; their mean score was higher than 3.7; however, their scores on interaction confidence were both low. Taiwanese students presented the highest score on Interaction Engagement, followed by Respect for cultural difference and then Interaction Enjoyment. Hainan students presented the highest score on Interaction Enjoyment, followed by Respect for cultural difference and then Interaction Engagement. Compared with Hainan students, Taiwanese students have more intercultural experiences such as travel or study abroad, but Hainan students have more enjoyment than Taiwanese students. Results of t-test on the five variables indicated that intercultural experiences have significant impact on intercultural sensitivity. Some students indicated that overseas experiences did not provide them with enjoyment because of cultural shock. Therefore, educational institutes in both Hainan and Taiwan are recommended to offer students intercultural training courses before sending them overseas