Charting the development of second language proficiency and intercultural competence in postsecondary education

• DOI: 10.1111/modl.12986
• Publication Date: 2025-03-11T22:53:45Z
• Authors: Bing Mu; LeAnne Spino
• Keywords: Intercultural Competence; Postsecondary education; Language proficiency

Abstract Developing proficiency and intercultural competence are goals promoted by the Modern Language Association widely shared postsecondary second language programs across United States. Although development of has been studied extensively in this context, comparatively little is known about how develops domestically as part a broader educational experience. To chart competence, 296 students studying seven languages completed American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages Oral Proficiency Interview–computer Intercultural Development Inventory. While students’ increased statistically during their studies, did not. Furthermore, were not correlated. In addition, who abroad experience different either measure compared to those last finding tentative nature due small sample size (26 had for at least 3 weeks vs. 77 study abroad, subset toward end studies level), these results may have important implications instruction potential role