Culture Teaching Approaches and Intercultural Communicative Competence Development in China College English Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is increasingly recognized as a key competence in Chinese higher education, making it an essential component of global citizenship. Culture-based teaching is widely regarded as an important pathway for fostering ICC in College English education; however, research on its implementation and effectiveness remains limited. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 959 records were initially identified from Scopus, ERIC, and WOS. After screening and eligibility assessment, 15 studies published between 2021 and 2025 were included for analysis. The findings reveal that culture-based teaching approaches, such as culture comparison, task-based learning, and technology-enhanced practices (e.g. telecollaboration) play a positive role in promoting students’ intercultural awareness, communicative skills, and critical cultural reflection. However, these approaches are often constrained by four key challenges, including the marginalized ICC in curriculum design, limited teacher preparedness and practical guidance, learners’ low engagement and intercultural awareness, and insufficient technological support. In addition, the review highlights a predominance of quantitative and mixed-methods research designs, with a strong reliance on self-reported data and limited use of longitudinal and performance-based approaches. These findings provide practical implications for improving ICC-oriented teaching and suggest directions for future research.