Initiating competence in intercultural communication 一 New approaches for Chinese learners in a university English language class

The phenomenon of World English has made English the lingua franca of international business and trade. This thesis explores how English has spread, and to what extent it has changed. It also considers how local knowledge and concerns about identity can be dealt with while teaching students to use English towards a global perspective. Relevant pedagogical principles are then identified and applied to the production of teaching materials that fit within the context and parameters of an academic English course at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, China. Research is conducted to determine whether an approach of using film clips and role plays can initiate competence in intercultural communication while satisfying the academic writing objectives that were set by Lingnan University.