The Role of Soft Skills in Promoting Effective Communication and Cooperation among Students in a Multicultural Classroom Environment

Le Thi Ngoc Lan

Le Thi Ngoc Lan

Keywords: Soft skills, communication skills, effective cooperation, multicultural classroom, Vietnam

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the importance of soft skills in promoting successful communication and cooperation among students in a multicultural classroom environment. Soft skills, including effective communication, active listening, empathy, and teamwork play an important role in building positive relationships and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Through the study of documents and the results of interviews with 12 students from 8 universities in Hanoi, the research results demonstrate that students who actively participate in the development of soft skills demonstrate a greater level of awareness and appreciation of their role in a multicultural environment. Based on the results of the study, a number of collaborative learning strategies, cultural exchange programs and real-world problem-solving activities are encouraged to raise students' awareness and understanding of the importance of soft skills.

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