Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland

Research objectives (aims) and problem(s): The aim of this study was to identify differences in the level and determinants of intercultural communication competence among school pupils in the Polish–Czech border  region. Specifically, we sought to determine whether statistically significant differe...

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Main Authors: Michał Szyszka, Megan Hopkins, Joanna Kurowska-Pysz, Edyta Nowak-Żółty, Dominik Krężołek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ignatianum University Press 2025-06-01
Series:Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3445
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author Michał Szyszka
Megan Hopkins
Joanna Kurowska-Pysz
Edyta Nowak-Żółty
Dominik Krężołek
author_facet Michał Szyszka
Megan Hopkins
Joanna Kurowska-Pysz
Edyta Nowak-Żółty
Dominik Krężołek
author_sort Michał Szyszka
collection DOAJ
description Research objectives (aims) and problem(s): The aim of this study was to identify differences in the level and determinants of intercultural communication competence among school pupils in the Polish–Czech border  region. Specifically, we sought to determine whether statistically significant differences exist among the study groups, and which variables—such as environment, gender, faith, national identity, and community affiliation—shape intercultural communication skills. Research methods: The study employed a diagnostic survey using a questionnaire. It involved 464 participants across three groups: pupils from bilingual schools in the Czech Republic [A], pupils from Polish schools located near the border [B], and a control group of pupils from public schools in the Silesian Voivodeship. Process of argumentation: Zaolzie represents a borderland with a unique cultural identity and a longstanding tradition of multiculturalism. This raises the question of whether, in such an environment, students’ levels of intercultural communication competence differ from those in other regions, or whether their declared views are shaped by different variables. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: The study found that the local context—the environment in which respondents were raised and educated, situated at the cultural and national border between Poland and the Czech Republic—does not significantly influence their level of intercultural communication competence or their expectations regarding intercultural education. The data indicate that students’ competences are similar to those of adolescents from other regions, and that beliefs, views, and attitudes toward multiculturalism are only minimally affected by the examined variables.
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spelling doaj-art-c0dc742f18a64c0b821cf3d36f0fb0d62025-06-30T12:13:32ZengIgnatianum University PressMultidisciplinary Journal of School Education2543-84092025-06-01141 (27)10.35765/mjse.2025.1427.05Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderlandMichał Szyszka0Megan Hopkins1Joanna Kurowska-Pysz2Edyta Nowak-Żółty3Dominik Krężołek4WSB University, Dąbrowa GórniczaDepartment of Education Studies, UC San DiegoWSB University, Dąbrowa GórniczaWSB University, Dąbrowa GórniczaUniversity of Economics in Katowice Research objectives (aims) and problem(s): The aim of this study was to identify differences in the level and determinants of intercultural communication competence among school pupils in the Polish–Czech border  region. Specifically, we sought to determine whether statistically significant differences exist among the study groups, and which variables—such as environment, gender, faith, national identity, and community affiliation—shape intercultural communication skills. Research methods: The study employed a diagnostic survey using a questionnaire. It involved 464 participants across three groups: pupils from bilingual schools in the Czech Republic [A], pupils from Polish schools located near the border [B], and a control group of pupils from public schools in the Silesian Voivodeship. Process of argumentation: Zaolzie represents a borderland with a unique cultural identity and a longstanding tradition of multiculturalism. This raises the question of whether, in such an environment, students’ levels of intercultural communication competence differ from those in other regions, or whether their declared views are shaped by different variables. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: The study found that the local context—the environment in which respondents were raised and educated, situated at the cultural and national border between Poland and the Czech Republic—does not significantly influence their level of intercultural communication competence or their expectations regarding intercultural education. The data indicate that students’ competences are similar to those of adolescents from other regions, and that beliefs, views, and attitudes toward multiculturalism are only minimally affected by the examined variables. https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3445cultural communication competenceZaolzie regioninteintercultural communicationbilingual educationyouth cultural identity
spellingShingle Michał Szyszka
Megan Hopkins
Joanna Kurowska-Pysz
Edyta Nowak-Żółty
Dominik Krężołek
Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
cultural communication competence
Zaolzie region
inteintercultural communication
bilingual education
youth cultural identity
title Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
title_full Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
title_fullStr Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
title_full_unstemmed Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
title_short Cross-cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the Polish–Czech borderland
title_sort cross cultural communication competence of students in the unique context of the polish czech borderland
topic cultural communication competence
Zaolzie region
inteintercultural communication
bilingual education
youth cultural identity
url https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3445
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AT joannakurowskapysz crossculturalcommunicationcompetenceofstudentsintheuniquecontextofthepolishczechborderland
AT edytanowakzołty crossculturalcommunicationcompetenceofstudentsintheuniquecontextofthepolishczechborderland
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