Intercultural Competences of Chinese Learners in the Portuguese Context of Immersion: A Qualitative Multidimensional Investigation

Abstract

Based on the intercultural education perspective in the teaching and learning of Portuguese as Foreign Language, the present study intends to address the framework of dimensions of intercultural competences (attitudes, knowledge, skills and awareness), in the perception of Chinese learners of Portuguese in their study of immersion. The analysis of qualitative research data allows us to arrive at the following conclusions: 1) the perception of the Chinese learners about CI is based on a multidimensional model composed by those dimensions; 2) in the codification of dimensions, there is a marked and balanced differentiation in the Chinese learners by the identification of difficulties and the resolution of difficulties; 3) in the immersion context in Portugal, it’s obvious the valuation of attitudes and awareness and the lack of knowledge and skills, mainly due to the linguistic and non-linguistic deficit of language learners.