Intercultural Barriers in EFL Speaking: A Case Study of Virtual Interaction

Ani Dyah Astuty; Siti Nurul Ilmi HL

doi:10.30863/didaktika.v20i01.11930

Authors

Ani Dyah Astuty Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang, Indonesia
Siti Nurul Ilmi HL Institut Agama Islam Negeri Bone, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30863/didaktika.v20i01.11930

Keywords:

Intercultural barriers, EFL speaking, virtual communication, intercultural communicative competence

Abstract

This study investigates intercultural barriers in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speaking, particularly in the context of virtual communication. Nowadays, communication requires not only language proficiency but also intercultural communicative competence. Nevertheless, learners can experience difficulties when they try to communicate with people coming from different cultures. The study aims to find out the types of intercultural barriers Indonesian EFL learners encounter and the ways in which such barriers occur during live interactions.
This research employed a qualitative case study design involving ten Indonesian EFL learners who participated in virtual communication sessions with native English speakers through a language exchange platform. Data were collected through recorded interactions and semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using thematic analysis and interactional analysis.
The results show the following main types of intercultural barriers: linguistic, pragmatic, sociocultural, and psychological barriers. These barriers were interactionally discovered through processes with signs like hesitations, self-repair, misinterpretations, and the negotiation of meaning. The study shows that communication problems do not arise merely from the lack of competence but are interactionally produced during real-time communication.

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