AUTHENTIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE MEDIA TEXTS AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING LINGUISTIC AND INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HUMANITIES STUDENTS

Abstract

The article examines the effectiveness of using authentic media texts in teaching foreign languages to humanities students as a means of developing linguistic and intercultural competence. Theoretical approaches to the development of sociocultural competence are analyzed, and the role of materials created by native speakers in bringing the learning process closer to real communication conditions is highlighted. Examples of written and video materials reflecting verbal and non-verbal communication standards, contemporary vocabulary, idioms, phrasal verbs, clichés, and key cultural values of the English-speaking environment are provided. It is shown that working with authentic resources promotes critical thinking, intercultural dialogue, empathy, and the ability to adapt to various sociocultural contexts, as well as develops skills in analyzing social situations and modeling behavior in intercultural communication. The didactic potential of media texts for familiarizing students with formal and informal speech styles, cultural traditions, behavioral norms, and social roles in another cultural environment is demonstrated. The necessity of careful material selection and methodological adaptation according to students’ proficiency levels, as well as integration into tasks for content comprehension, vocabulary analysis, cultural context interpretation, and practical oral and written exercises using interactive methods that enhance student motivation, is substantiated. The study results confirm that the use of authentic media texts simultaneously ensures the development of linguistic competence and intercultural sensitivity, helps overcome stereotypes and prejudices, and promotes the ability for interpersonal interaction and critical analysis of social phenomena, making them an indispensable tool in modern foreign language education.