Experiencing the Other: Students’ Construal of Intercultural Competence

The demographic, technological, economic and peace imperatives have created a world in which our interactions are dominated by cultural differences and our ability to understand ‘the other’. Intercultural competence is thus a necessary skill for individuals to build positive communication with others. This paper explores students’ construal of intercultural competence. Specifically, we highlight their experiences interacting with the other and their understanding of intercultural competence. Using a qualitative approach, focus group interviews were conducted with the selected undergraduate students from three universities in Northern Malaysia. The findings indicate three important themes: attitude, cultural knowledge and language skills. The paper contributes to specific factors needed of intercultural competence within the Malaysian context.