AUTHENTIC MATERIALS AS A MEANS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS

Abstract

This article is devoted to the problem of formation of students’ cultural competence. The authors consider the study of English through the prism of cultural competence, since the study of language and culture are closely related to each other. The paper also describes a few techniques which encourage the development of intercultural competence proposed in some studies, in particular, the comparative approach. Special attention is paid to possible ways of motivating students with different backgrounds and levels of knowledge to integrate into a cohesive and productive classroom, as well as the importance of theory of collaborative learning is noted. What’s more, some causes which can seriously affect students’ speech are described, e.g. indifference of their interlocutors, no matter, it is real or perceived. On the other hand, as long as students are supposed to speak openly, they are prone to expressing their thoughts more freely, what makes it easier for them to overcome shyness, which contributes to a more free assimilation of the language. Teachers can encourage students to participate in authentic personally meaningful, language learning sessions in case they allow learners to suggest topics for discussions, choose materials, and present these issues in class. Teaching students to share their points of view, lecturers promote a socially and culturally engaged autonomy.When a contemporary social and cultural context are provided, students have the opportunity to control and assess their own learning process and become a part of the language community. In addition, the article presents various options for using authentic materials in the classroom.