Социокультурная стратегия в процессе обучения иностранным языкам

Abstract

Processes of European integration are inevitably related to changes in culture and education. The development of skills such as interactive communication, discussion, critical thinking, creative thinking, tolerance, and ability to communicate on equal terms constitutes the basis of a democratic society. These issues are of special importance for language instruction at higher education institutions since the process of language teaching can be used for development of these critical skills. The aim of this paper is to discuss possibilities of employment of new didactic methods in higher education in order to instil social competence mentioned above. The present scholarly focus is directed to the presentation of three groups of strategies leading to change. It is emphasised that the normative educational strategy suits best the purposes of the changing society. The strategy is targeted at motivating learners to accept changes through the development of social competence skills. Socio-cultural changes are inextricably connected to a changed attitude to knowledge, skills, and people. Literature analysis, questionnaire and seminars were employed to find skills specific and important to the development of a democratic society. This allowed that are select teaching methods most effective for the development of critical skills. The paper concludes by stating that the function of a teacher is not limited to instruction within a subjectspecific area but it also includes the role of an advocator of normative educational strategies and initiator of the emergence of a new culture in society. The implementation of new didactic methods such as active teaching methods and debates enables to improve the process of teaching, the main aim of which is the highlighting of the socio-cultural context.