Speaker
Description
In today’s context of globalisation and international integration, intercultural communication competence has become a vital tool for Vietnamese English-majored students to expand their career opportunities after graduation. However, communicating effectively across cultures remains a significant challenge. It requires knowledge and skills related to intercultural communication, a willingness to communicate, and a solid understanding of pragmatics. This study, therefore, aims to examine how well Vietnamese English-major students self-perceive their ICC and readiness to communicate in intercultural contexts, identify common challenges they face when interacting with foreigners, explore the influence of classroom experience on their confidence and communication ability, and investigate practical strategies to integrate into classroom instruction. These strategies are intended to help students communicate more confidently in multicultural environments beyond the academic setting. This research adopts a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative surveys (n ≈ 100) and qualitative interviews (n ≈ 5) with third- and final-year students at Can Tho University. The findings aim to identify gaps between classroom preparation and real-world demands, providing insights for students, educators, and curriculum developers to enhance intercultural readiness, and prepare students for global interaction.
Biography
Nguyen Thi Tu My is a graduate student in English Linguistics at Can Tho University. She previously earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language, majoring in Translation and Interpreting, from the same institution. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has experience teaching English to learners of various age groups and currently works remotely as a specialist for a law firm based in the United States. The combination of her academic background, teaching experience, and involvement in a multicultural working environment has provided her with a practical and multidimensional perspective on language and intercultural communication.
Her academic interests lie in applied linguistics, intercultural communication, and the relationship between language and culture in the process of learning and using a foreign language. She is particularly interested in the challenges English learners face when adapting their communication styles, as well as the role of language education in preparing learners for real-world communication.
Through her research presented at this conference, she hopes to share new insights, learn from fellow researchers, and further develop her expertise to make meaningful contributions to English language education and research in Vietnam.
