Juan Alberto Iturriaga Brito

Navigating the Unexpected Territory of Pluricultural Competence in Chinese Students of Spanish through Applied Drama

Juan Alberto Iturriaga Brito – Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain

Abstract:

China’s rapid development has been accompanied by a growing interest in learning foreign languages. In fact, Spanish is now one of the options available to students for their university entrance exam (Gaokao). It is unsurprising that Spain and Latin America attract Chinese students, who are often captivated by the images and narratives they encounter from these distant cultures. However, learning a new language is a complex process. Today, educators following the CEFR guidelines recognize that teaching a language also means teaching a culture. How, then, can we develop pluricultural competence in students who navigate between two very different cultures? Applied drama offers an innovative approach that challenges both students and teachers. It reshapes the traditional, hierarchical classroom model, drawing on Confucian principles to foster active, experiential learning. This study aims to use applied drama to enhance the pluricultural competence of Chinese university students learning Spanish, encouraging them to juxtapose their perceptions of the Hispanic world with the dynamic nature of their own culture. It also invites educators from Hispanic countries to broaden their understanding of Chinese culture. At the same time, applied drama encourages students to tap into their creativity and explore the potential of body, voice, and mind—key elements of this educational approach. The classroom experiences discussed in this study have been underway since November 2024, involving students in a specialized Spanish program for Chinese speakers at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain.