Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence through Case Technology: Pedagogical Potential and Implementation in Foreign Language Education

Intercultural communicative competence has become an essential component of foreign language education, since effective communication in contemporary academic and professional environments requires not only linguistic proficiency but also the ability to interpret cultural differences, negotiate meanings, and respond appropriately to unfamiliar communicative situations. This article presents a narrative review of the pedagogical potential of case technology for developing intercultural communicative competence in foreign language education. Drawing on major models of intercultural competence and recent studies of the case method, case-based learning, and Internet-based case study technology, the article examines the relationship between case analysis and the cognitive, communicative, behavioural, and reflective components of intercultural learning. Particular attention is given to authentic problem situations, collaborative decision-making, perspective-taking, classroom discussion, and reflection. The review demonstrates that case technology can integrate linguistic practice with cultural interpretation and problem solving, while its effectiveness depends on appropriate case design, linguistic scaffolding, teacher facilitation, and reflective assessment. A staged model for implementing intercultural cases in foreign language classes is proposed.