DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE THROUGH VIRTUAL REALITY

The development of intercultural communicative competence has a positive effect on the adaptation of aperson in society, the formation of a new worldview. The aim of the study is to determine the advantages ofdeveloping intercultural communicative competence using virtual reality (VR). The study employed themethods of analysis, observation, comparison, the mathematical method of parallel forms, calculations of theJ. Phillips criterion, Cronbach’s α. The process of developing communicative skills in foreign languagelearning involved the analysis of cultural stereotypes, expanding verbal and non-verbal techniques, solvingintercultural situations, and student interaction. The training was conducted using ClassVR (Group 1) andENGAGE (Group 2). The results showed that the ClassVR application had a greater impact on thedevelopment of language skills (M=45.3), ENGAGE — social skills (M=47.2). It was found that the learningprocess had a positive significance for the development of language competence (94%), critical thinking(92%) for the students of Group 1. The students of Group 2 developed the skills of clarity of development ofcultural strategies (95%), flexibility of communication (93%). It was determined that the students of Group1 achieved a high level of communication during interaction with other students from the group (M=47.2),Group 2 – with students from other countries (M=48.2). The obtained results reveal the advantages of VRfor the possibility of developing students’ intercultural communicative competence. The practicalsignificance of the article is the possibility of adapting VR to the foreign language learning. The researchprospects are aimed at ensuring the development of intercultural communication for students from Ukraineand Great Britain. They provide for the analysis of the possibility of achieving intercultural competence inthe study of English and Ukrainian and achieving high-quality interaction between students. The results willbe put in practice through the use of ClassVR and ENGAGE as well.