Cultural Intelligence Among Iranian Foreign Language Undergraduates: An Exploratory Study

This descriptive study investigates Cultural Intelligence or Cultural Quotient (CQ) among Iranian undergraduates in their final year of foreign language studies, covering a diverse range of target languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish). A total of 270 participants from state universities in Iran, both male and female, across various foreign language majors, participated in the study. Using an adapted version of Triandis’ (2006) CQ questionnaire, participants' CQ was measured across four dimensions: cultural knowledge, strategy, motivation, and behaviour. Administered in Persian, the study revealed that participants exhibited cultural awareness and a willingness to adapt communication styles. However, areas for improvement were identified, such as the limited verification of cultural knowledge and a tendency towards Iranian cultural superiority. The target language did not significantly influence CQ development, suggesting that foreign language learning generally enhances CQ. The findings highlight the need for pedagogical practices to integrate strategies for improving cultural knowledge accuracy and promoting intercultural understanding, including encouraging critical evaluation of cultural information.