Students’ Awareness of Intercultural Competence in the English Language Classrooms

This study aims to explore, holistically, students' cultural awareness, attitudes, views and perceptions of intercultural communicative competence in foreign language teaching and learning. The study also explores students’ understanding of the relationship between language and culture and how cultural knowledge helps them communicate effectively in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. Moreover, the study attempts to synthesize findings from prior studies and apply them to the local Macedonian context to identify possible discrepancies between established research results and actual cultural teaching practices in Macedonian EFL classrooms. The study pays particular attention to students' perspectives, as learners are directly affected by changes in pedagogical approach and the inclusion of cultural content in second language education.
Finally, the research will provide evidence-based recommendations that may help language teachers, curriculum designers, and future researchers improve intercultural teaching practices and create more culturally responsive learning environments in Macedonia and similar educational contexts.

Keywords: Cultural Awareness; Intercultural Communicative Competence; Cultural Teaching Practices; Second Language Teaching; Similar Learning Contexts; Intercultural Competence