ENHANCING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE THROUGH EMPATHY-FOCUSED PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

In an increasingly globalized world, intercultural competence has emerged as a vital component of effective communication, particularly in educational settings. This article explores the role of empathy as a core component of intercultural competence and examines pedagogical strategies for fostering empathy among language learners. The study reviews theoretical foundations from intercultural communication and pedagogy, and proposes practical classroom methods aimed at enhancing students’ ability to understand, relate to, and respect individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The findings suggest that empathy-driven learning activities can significantly contribute to the development of students’ intercultural awareness and communicative confidence.