Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Role of Social Media in Intercultural Communication Competence: A Study of Chinese Students in Malaysia

Peixin XiangUniversity Kebangsaan Malaysia*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

With globalization, higher education and society constantly demand students and people to have intercultural communication competence (ICC). More and more Chinese students are choosing to come to Malaysia for higher education. In recent years, teenagers have accessed information through social media. To have deep research on how social media can help the acculturation process. The Integrative Communication Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation will be used as the theoretical guide for this study. The qualitative and quantitative research will be combined through a mixed-methods sequential interpretive design. Semi-structured interviews are conducted by selecting appropriate samples from the questionnaire through purposive sampling. The final data will be analyzed through Grounded theory as a theoretical guide. The main challenges encountered by Chinese students in Malaysia centered on cultural differences in the classroom, assignments, and cuisine. Students with high ICC thought social media would broaden their views and give them access to resources and information about different cultures as they acclimate. Students with low ICC believed that social media facilitated mutual understanding in acculturation. All of them were willing to use social media to make friends but still focused on making deeper connections with Chinese students.

Keywords: intercultural competency; cultural adaptation; cultural sensitivity; social media
Published: December 7, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/19/20231211
Volume: CHR Vol.19
pp. 108-117
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