“United in Diversity” and Beyond: Developing Intercultural Competence through Postcolonial Short Fiction in the EFL Class

Abstract

[eng] This thesis seeks to posit the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) class as a space for secondary-school students to effectively develop intercultural competence through the discussion of reading materials stemming from oncecolonized countries. Taking postcolonial short fiction as a point of departure, the main aim is to propose a series of strategies which can be implemented by Spanish fourth-of-E.S.O and second-of-bachillerato EFL students in writing and speaking discussions on the provided reading material. Such strategies will be introduced as essential to foster multicultural awareness as learners avoid the reproduction and assimilation of social discourses often associated with oncecolonized cultures. Against this background, teachers’ conscious effort not to Otherize such cultures will be introduced as paramount in order to implement this proposal. In like manner, the progressive challenge of pre-established patterns of knowledge shall be presented as a tool to reassess learners’ capacity to appreciate difference.