FORMATION OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF IMPROVING THEIR PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

Abstract

Professional communication requires the ability to establish and develop new business contacts, choose an appropriate behavioral scenario and involves not only language acquisition, but also the ability to perceive the social and cultural context of communicators. According to the new philosophy of education, the main mediators of cultural experience related to the communication of different nationalities are foreign language teachers. The article interprets the concept of “cross-cultural competence” and reveals the need for the formation of this competence for foreign language teachers as an effective means of improving their professional competence. According to research, the criteria for cross-cultural competence are: cross-cultural awareness (a set of knowledge of cultural artifacts, patterns of behavior, understanding the need and compliance with scenarios of behavior of native or other culture or subculture); cultural identity (the result of cultural identification, correlation and identification with cultural norms and patterns of behavior); normative identity (knowledge, understanding and acceptance of social norms). The authors describe the forms and methods of forming cross-cultural competence of foreign language teachers, including: participation in international projects and foreign internships, study of advanced pedagogical experience related to the formation of cross-cultural competence, scientific and methodological activities in cooperation with foreign colleagues (participation in international conferences, round tables, etc.); self-education. In addition, the article provides examples of exercises that can be used to form cross-cultural competence of foreign language teachers and students. Thus, a foreign language teacher with developed cross-cultural competence will be able to educate a new generation of professionals with European consciousness, with the ability to conduct cross-cultural dialogue, which is not possible not only without linguistic but also intercultural component.