LINGUO-CULTURAL APPROACH TO FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALISTS

Abstract

The approaches to foreign languages teaching have been changed over the last years. It has been connected with the humanization of education. Language is no longer considered to be the main mean of communication, but just as a way of other nations’ and cultures’ discovering. Foreign language learning through the prism of culture is the basis of linguocultural approach. Linguocultural approach reflects the modern requirements of foreign language teaching and enables students to master linguistic knowledge and communicative skills together with a whole set of cultural knowledge. Within this approach the culture becomes the object of study and language is used as an additional mean of getting information. Learning the culture of another country helps to overcome communicative barriers, be tolerant towards the attitudes and beliefs of other peoples, and understand clearly the socio-cultural norms and foundations of intercultural communication. Linguocultural approach involves the formation of linguocultural competence that is a system of both knowledge and skills about the culture and the ability to use them in a particular communicative situation. This competence is usually formed on the basis of a text that not only preserves and passes the information from one generation to another, but is also the product of a particular historical epoch and the form of existence of national culture and mentality. Another effective mean of foreign language teaching within linguocultural approach is the use of video and audio materials that can demonstrate linguocultural reality. Using of linguocultural approach in foreign language teaching allows students to interpret the cultural phenomenon of their own nation in foreign cultures’ reflection which is a necessary prerequisite of the specialist outlook formation.