An Analysis Of The Correlation Between Intercultural Communication Competence And Intercultural Sensitivity Of English Majors In Xinjiang Universities

In recent years, more and more English major graduates are engaged in diplomacy,foreign trade, foreign language teaching, intercultural communication and others, which puts higher requirements on their intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communicative competence. Intercultural sensitivity affects students’ intercultural communication competence, which in turn has a direct impact on the quality of intercultural communication.This study investigates 150 English major students from Xinjiang universities. Firstly, the analysis shows that there is no significant difference between the male and female on intercultural communication competence, and their intercultural communication competence and intercultural sensitivity are at the medium level. Secondly, there does exist a correlation between intercultural communication competence and intercultural sensitivity(correlation coefficent=0.614). Finally, interaction engagement, the best indicator variable, influences the intercultural sensitivity, which means that the most effective way of improving intercultural communication competence is to focus on improving interaction engagement, giving considerations to other aspects of intercultural sensitivity, students’ intercultural communication competence will be improved ultimately.According to the findings of the research, three suggestions were given:1) Creating real communication circumstance in order to improve students’ interaction engagement; 2)Adopting appropriate teaching methods to increase students’ enthusiasm and interaction confidence; 3) Improving teachers’ intercultural communication competence. By comparing the differences between Chinese culture and English culture, negative transfer will be reduced.On one hand, the research will enrich the theory of intercultural communication, and give suggestions to promote the multicultural communication effectively. On the other hand,it is also a reference to those who are engaged in foreign affairs, foreign trade, foreign language teaching, intercultural communication, translation and others.