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Intercultural Competence in the Classroom: A Systematic Review of Classroom-Based Research on Teaching and Learning Practices for Developing Intercultural Competence in Different Educational Contexts

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Title: Intercultural Competence in the Classroom: A Systematic Review of Classroom-Based Research on Teaching and Learning Practices for Developing Intercultural Competence in Different Educational Contexts
Language: English
Authors: Markus Al-Afifi (ORCID 0009-0006-0941-8595), Thomas Nygren (ORCID 0000-0003-1884-3252), Maria Rasmusson (ORCID 0000-0002-3241-967X), Malin Tväråna (ORCID 0000-0001-7527-0011)
Source: Intercultural Education. 2026 37(2):217-250.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Literature Reviews, Secondary School Students, Secondary School Teachers, Classroom Communication, Cultural Education, Cultural Awareness, Interpersonal Competence, Educational Environment, Educational Practices, Classroom Research, Context Effect, Grade Level Differences, Intellectual Disciplines, Foreign Countries, Reflection, Student Experience
DOI: 10.1080/14675986.2025.2555782
ISSN: 1467-5986
1469-8439
Abstract: This review provides an overview of researched classroom-based teaching and learning practices designed to enhance student intercultural competence across various educational contexts. From a total of 4904 systematically screened peer-reviewed studies, we identified 28 studies that examine teaching and learning practices focused on developing the intercultural competence of secondary and upper-secondary students within classrooms. We utilised a multifaceted analytical approach to evaluate the studies, which included analysing contextual factors and identifying researched classroom practices for intercultural competence development. The results synthesised three key teaching and learning practices studied for enhancing students' intercultural competence: learning about culture, reflecting on culture, and experiencing culture. These practices have been researched to varying extents across different school subjects, grade levels, countries, target student groups, and class sizes. The findings presented in this review enrich our understanding of researched classroom teaching and learning practices that promote intercultural competence and underscore the need for further research on how to cultivate intercultural competence in classrooms.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503277
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Intercultural Competence in the Classroom: A Systematic Review of Classroom-Based Research on Teaching and Learning Practices for Developing Intercultural Competence in Different Educational Contexts
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Markus+Al-Afifi%22">Markus Al-Afifi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0941-8595">0009-0006-0941-8595</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thomas+Nygren%22">Thomas Nygren</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1884-3252">0000-0003-1884-3252</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maria+Rasmusson%22">Maria Rasmusson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3241-967X">0000-0002-3241-967X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Malin+Tväråna%22">Malin Tväråna</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7527-0011">0000-0001-7527-0011</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Intercultural+Education%22"><i>Intercultural Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 37(2):217-250.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 34
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Teachers%22">Secondary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Classroom+Communication%22">Classroom Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Education%22">Cultural Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Awareness%22">Cultural Awareness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Competence%22">Interpersonal Competence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Environment%22">Educational Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Practices%22">Educational Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Classroom+Research%22">Classroom Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Context+Effect%22">Context Effect</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+Level+Differences%22">Grade Level Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+Disciplines%22">Intellectual Disciplines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/14675986.2025.2555782
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  Data: 1467-5986<br />1469-8439
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This review provides an overview of researched classroom-based teaching and learning practices designed to enhance student intercultural competence across various educational contexts. From a total of 4904 systematically screened peer-reviewed studies, we identified 28 studies that examine teaching and learning practices focused on developing the intercultural competence of secondary and upper-secondary students within classrooms. We utilised a multifaceted analytical approach to evaluate the studies, which included analysing contextual factors and identifying researched classroom practices for intercultural competence development. The results synthesised three key teaching and learning practices studied for enhancing students' intercultural competence: learning about culture, reflecting on culture, and experiencing culture. These practices have been researched to varying extents across different school subjects, grade levels, countries, target student groups, and class sizes. The findings presented in this review enrich our understanding of researched classroom teaching and learning practices that promote intercultural competence and underscore the need for further research on how to cultivate intercultural competence in classrooms.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1503277
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        Value: 10.1080/14675986.2025.2555782
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 217
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Classroom Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Education
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Environment
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Practices
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      – SubjectFull: Classroom Research
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      – SubjectFull: Context Effect
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      – SubjectFull: Grade Level Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Intellectual Disciplines
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Reflection
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – TitleFull: Intercultural Competence in the Classroom: A Systematic Review of Classroom-Based Research on Teaching and Learning Practices for Developing Intercultural Competence in Different Educational Contexts
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