Exploring intercultural communicative competence in online discussion on Quora: A descriptive qualitative study

Abstract

In an era of increasing global interconnection, developing Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) has become essential, and online platforms have emerged as key spaces for intercultural interaction. While much of the research on ICC has focused on controlled, educational environments, fewer studies have investigated its natural expression in informal, large-scale online forums that are not designed specifically for language learning. This study aims to explore how ICC is represented in discussions on Quora and assess the platform's potential as a tool for intercultural learning. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative approach, the study analyzes five purposefully selected discussion threads from Quora. A thematic content analysis was conducted based on Byram's (1997) five-dimensional model of ICC. The results show that all five dimensions of ICC are represented, with Knowledge and Attitudes being the most prominent. Noteworthy instances of Critical Cultural Awareness emerged, where users critically examined cultural stereotypes and practices. The findings suggest that Quora functions as a dynamic space for the co-construction of cultural understanding, with users actively negotiating and performing cultural competence. The study concludes that such informal, "in-the-wild" online interactions offer valuable opportunities for enhancing intercultural competence and can be integrated into English Language Teaching (ELT) to promote authentic intercultural engagement.