INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CEFR: IMPLEMENTATION IN PRACTICE

Abstract

The article aims at analyzing theoretical interpretation of intercultural competence in CEFR, its practical aspect which is revealed in the observation of the syllabus of the course ‘Intercultural Studies’. To accomplish the aim, the issues of theoretical background, CEFR and intercultural dimension, Ukrainian theoretical ideas and curriculum, cultural competences, a course of cultural study are going to be discussed. The theoretical part of the article defines the structure and content of the intercultural competence basing on CEFR and national Ukrainian curriculum which leads to clear understanding what knowledge and skills are to be taught. On the practical level, the article specifies the purpose of the course “Intercultural Studies” and defines its objectives among which to provide cultural knowledge and teach intercultural skills, as, for instance, to analyze cultural types, to differentiate cultural peculiarities. The aim of the course is to provide the students with the information about culture, its components, the ways of interaction between people from different cultures, to develop skills to use the relevant methods of culture analysis and to use the knowledge and skills to present their own culture. Considerable attention is paid to psychological perception of different cultures, specifically to the skill of perceiving cultural differences, and consequently, to demonstrate tolerance, to be able to cope with cultural barriers. The defined objectives can be accomplished through a series of lectures and tutorials.