An Introduction to the Pathology of Teaching Culture in Iran: A Study of the Relationship between Deculturation and Emotional Intelligence among EFL Learners

Learners of English as a foreign language (EFL learners) are the products of degree of identity conflict experienced while learning a language. Learning English means crossing the boundaries of one’s home culture into a foreign culture – a challenging cross-cultural experience influencing one’s home culture attachment (Pishghadam & Ordoubady 2011). In this study, 80 EFL learners of University of Zanjan participated in this project. They were asked to fill in the Home Culture Attachment Scale (HCAS) (Pishghadam 2012). Also, Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS) (Schutte et. al 1998) was used to assess emotional intelligence. The results of the study indicated that there is statically positive correlation between EI and deculturation. Due to the importance of English language learning in Iran and its impact on identity change, investigating the influence of cultural contact on learners in the process of language learning can shed light on the Iranian context of English language learning.