INVESTIGATING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE OF ENGLISH PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS: IMPLEMENTATION AND CHALLENGES IN EMBRACING RELIGIOUS MODERATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21274/ls.2026.18.1.69-91Keywords:
Intercultural competence, Pre-service teachers, Religious moderationAbstract
Language learning cannot be separated from cultural learning. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the intercultural competence of pre-service English teachers at UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri, focusing on their attitudes, knowledge, skills, and critical cultural awareness reflected in their teaching practices related to religious moderation. Implementing religious moderation is important for pre-service teachers in Indonesia because Indonesia consists of various ethnicities, races and religions. In contrast to previous researches that mainly address pre-service teachers' intercultural competence, this study aims to explore the dimensions of intercultural competence and identify the challenges faced by pre-service teachers in implementing English language learning and integrating religious moderation in their classrooms. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through questionnaires, classroom observations, and in-depth interviews with 30 students, which were analysed based on Byram's theory of intercultural competence. The results showed that the prospective teachers' level of intercultural competence was at a moderate level at 3.36, as evident in their teaching practices, particularly in their approach to embracing religious moderation. However, several challenges were encountered in their implementation, such as limited opportunities to interact with native speakers, low student interest in learning about culture, and limited connections between intercultural education and religious education in the curriculum. This study highlights the need for better training and curriculum integration to help pre-service teachers develop the skills and awareness needed to promote intercultural understanding and religious moderation in their future classrooms.
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