RELEVANCE OF THE LINGUOCULTURAL COMPONENT IN LEARNING THE LANGUAGE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES BY STUDENTS MAJORING IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The article is devoted to the problem of formation and development of linguocultural competence in students majoring in international relations and learning a foreign language for specific purposes. The comparison of European and Russian approaches has revealed that in Europe the emphasis is placed on the formation and development of sociolinguistic competence, while in Russian universities of international profile attention is largely paid to forming and developing linguocultural competence. The aim of the article is to determine the value of the linguocultural studies in learning a foreign language for specific purposes, drawing on the students’ experience. Basing on the results of questionnaire survey of MGIMO students majoring in economics, business and law (n=100), the authors substantiate the necessity of introducing tailor-made foreign language linguocultural courses. The article presents examples of practical work with linguocultural studies material aimed at studying linguistic, sociocultural and historical realities of the countries of the target language, as well as developing analytical, communicative and professionally relevant competences. Ultimately, the authors come to the conclusion that the fragmentary presentation of linguocultural material is not sufficient enough compared to the systematic presentation of this material in a linguocultural studies course in terms of its efficiency in learning the material and its integration into the course of the language for specific purposes.