THE ROLE OF LINGUOCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The present article is devoted to the study of linguocultural competence in the process of teaching English as a foreign language. In contemporary language education, the issue of integrating language and culture has become one of the central methodological directions due to the growing importance of intercultural communication in the era of globalization. The author examines the relationship between language, culture, history, and national identity, emphasizing that successful communication in a foreign language requires not only grammatical and lexical knowledge but also an understanding of cultural values, traditions, customs, and behavioral norms of native speakers. The article analyzes the role of linguocultural approaches in developing learners’ communicative competence and intercultural awareness. Special attention is paid to the cognitive approach, which allows learners to perceive language as a cultural and social phenomenon connected with human thinking and worldview. The author highlights the importance of using authentic materials, culturally oriented tasks, discussions, and interactive teaching methods in English classes.