The development of intercultural foreign language competence of University students of economics

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of formation of intercultural competence in the process of learning a professionally oriented foreign language. It is noted that the formation of intercultural competence can be structured, organized and strengthened in special training which has several stages. The stages of formation of intercultural competence are analyzed from the socio-cultural standpoint. The article describes the organization of the educational process oriented to the dialogue of cultures, an introduction to the culture of the country of the target language. On the basis of theoretical analysis of existing approaches the criteria of intercultural competence formation are formulated. They include: ethnographic knowledge of the culture of the country of the target language, knowledge of the norms of conduct of native speakers, ability to compare native and foreign language cultures, communicative abilities (abilities to interpret and build verbal and non-verbal behavior in accordance with the norms of the culture of the target language), readiness for dialogue of cultures, empathic abilities. The authors also determine the pedagogical conditions of effective formation of intercultural competence, the main of which are: taking into account the individual characteristics of students, the level of their linguistic and general cultural training; communicative training of professionally oriented foreign language considering the specifics of the university; unity of classroom and extracurricular activities; use of authentic teaching and methodological material; interdisciplinary integration; reliance on the comparative principle of languages and cultures studies and the dialogue of cultures; creative and activity approach; use of problem-based learning methods; using role-playing and business games within the framework of the contextual approach. The article considers the proposed model of the development of intercultural competence that can serve as a basis for the development of educational trajectory of students and is recommended to be introduced into practice of professionally-oriented foreign language teaching.