FORMATION OF THE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE OF STUDENTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING PROCESS

The article highlights developing the intercultural dimension in language teaching, involving recognising that the aims are: to give learners intercultural competence as well as linguistic competence; to prepare them for interaction with people of other cultures; to enable them to understand and accept people from other cultures as individuals with other distinctive perspectives, values and behaviours; and to help them to see that such interaction is an enriching experience. Thus, the visit or exchange is much more than an opportunity to 'practice' the language learnt in the classroom. It is a holistic learning experience which provides the means of using intercultural skills and acquiring new attitudes and values. Teachers need clear objectives, methods which take into account the power of experiential learning, and then learners will 'make the strange familiar - and the familiar strange'.