Abstract:

Along with internationalization of higher education and students’ academic mobility which involves interaction with interlocutors having different cultural backgrounds, intercultural competence has become an indispensable skill in any higher education context. Awareness of cultural similarities and differences between one’s own culture and the culture in which one may choose to study and live is, however, the first necessary step to become interculturally competent. The present study aims to investigate intercultural awareness in the context of multicultural higher education in Romania. International students who study Romanian as a foreign language from two universities were asked to express their opinions and perceptions on the cultural aspects they encounter in the host country, months into their acculturation journey. The study uses an open-ended question type questionnaire to collect general perceptions about the Romanian culture, similarities and differences between the culture of origin and the host culture and particular aspects of their perception of the higher education environment in Romania. Our hypothesis is that the constant comparison with and reference to the culture of origin is often the trigger for awareness and insightful observations which, ultimately, can develop intercultural competence and communication. The results confirm that the host culture is seen, shaped and reshaped in the participants’ perception by mirroring it in the perceptions of their own cultures.

Keywords:

Culture, intercultural communication, intercultural awareness, sociocultural adaptation.