Exploring the Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and Strategic Competence among Third year EFL Students at M’sila University.

Abstract

Effective communication is important in today’s globalized world. On that account, this study aims at suggesting a combination that contributes to enhancing the communication process. To accomplish this objective, the current research explores the relationship between Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and Strategic Competence (SC) along with examining EFL learners’ both CQ and SC levels. This study is conducted with thirty, third year, EFL students at M’sila University. A quantitative research approach is adopted along with the correlational method using two quantitative data collection tools. The first tool is Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) that assesses learners’ overall CQ level, and it goes further to figure out the level of each dimension within CQ (Meta-cognitive, Cognitive, Motivational, and Behavioral). The second tool is The Self-Report Questionnaire on Strategy Use (SRQSU), this tool is used to measure learners’ communication strategies use, therefore, their SC level. The results of the study show that EFL learners possess a medium level of CQ along with a fairly good SC level; as for the correlation of the two variables, findings revealed a strong statistically significant correlation between CQ and SC, including generally a moderate correlation for all four dimensions of CQ. CQ and SC have some similar aspects concerning flexibility, and mostly they shared characteristics on the behavioral level. The study highlights the importance of CQ for the EFL context, besides, spotlighting CSs as being a needed ability to the communication process; primarily this research call attention to acquire and build this correlated combination, namely CQ and SC