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Submitted
January 26, 2026
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February 5, 2026
Published
February 10, 2026
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Abstract

Around the world, intercultural competency is becoming more widely acknowledged as a crucial element of English language teaching (ELT). Language proficiency is frequently prioritized over the rich cultural aspects of English-speaking communities in Nepal, where classrooms are multilingual and culturally diverse. This study investigates how Nepalese educators and learners view the incorporation of the target culture into EFL lessons. Data were gathered from ten EFL teachers and 20 high school students in Kathmandu, using a mixed-methods approach. The results show that although both teachers and students appreciate the inclusion of the target culture, effective cultural instruction is hampered by real-world issues like out-of-date textbooks, inadequate training, and little exposure in the classroom. It is suggested that in order to improve intercultural communicative competence, teachers be trained in cultural pedagogy, intercultural materials be incorporated into textbooks and experiential learning be encouraged.


[Di seluruh dunia, kompetensi interkultural semakin diakui sebagai unsur penting dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris (English Language Teaching/ELT). Di Nepal, di mana ruang kelas bersifat multibahasa dan beragam secara kultural, kemahiran berbahasa sering kali lebih diprioritaskan dibandingkan kekayaan aspek budaya dari komunitas penutur bahasa Inggris. Penelitian ini mengkaji bagaimana pendidik dan peserta didik di Nepal memandang pengintegrasian budaya sasaran ke dalam pembelajaran bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing (EFL). Data dikumpulkan dari sepuluh guru EFL dan 20 siswa sekolah menengah atas di Kathmandu dengan menggunakan pendekatan metode campuran. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa meskipun guru dan siswa sama-sama menghargai pentingnya memasukkan budaya sasaran, pembelajaran budaya yang efektif masih terhambat oleh berbagai persoalan praktis, seperti buku ajar yang sudah usang, pelatihan yang tidak memadai, serta minimnya paparan budaya di dalam kelas. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini menyarankan agar guru dibekali pelatihan pedagogi budaya, materi interkultural diintegrasikan ke dalam buku teks, serta pembelajaran berbasis pengalaman didorong guna meningkatkan kompetensi komunikatif interkultural.]

Keywords

EFL classrooms intercultural competence target culture English language teaching

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Copyright (c) 2026 Kamal Khanal (Author)

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Integrating Perceptions of Intercultural Aspects of ELT into Nepali Classrooms: Mengintegrasikan Persepsi Aspek Interkultural dalam Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris (ELT) ke dalam Kelas di Nepal. (2026). SiRad: Pelita Wawasan, 2(1), 33-40. https://doi.org/10.64728/sirad.v2i1.art3
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How to Cite

Integrating Perceptions of Intercultural Aspects of ELT into Nepali Classrooms: Mengintegrasikan Persepsi Aspek Interkultural dalam Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris (ELT) ke dalam Kelas di Nepal. (2026). SiRad: Pelita Wawasan, 2(1), 33-40. https://doi.org/10.64728/sirad.v2i1.art3

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