Development of Skills of Intercultural Communication in the Process of Studying at Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

The article proves that the need for the development of intercultural communication skills in the learning process is due to external causes of globalization and internal requirements of the modern ethnocultural situation in Ukraine, as well as the needs of pedagogical science, which takes into account global development trends: anthropocentrism, search for value orientations and new worldview, the need for acquisition of intercultural interaction skills that ensure competitiveness in the global community. According to the author, the skills of intercultural communication of future specialists are characterized by the integrity of formation of personal qualities and abilities, the ability to switch from one culture-specific code to another, taking into account their differences, flexibly vary communication strategies and tactics, maintain a positive attitude; choice of verbal and non-verbal means. In this regard, the author proposed the idea of using Web 2.0 in the formation of intercultural communication skills. Experimental application of a special method of working with educational Internet resources based on Web 2.0 technologies was tested in the Practical English academic course. It was found that the use of Web 2.0 in the development of intercultural communication skills in the process of studying at higher educational institutions opens up a wide range of opportunities for educational practice: the use of free electronic resources used for educational purposes; independent creation of network content; interpersonal interactions of the subjects of the educational process. To analyse the results obtained and objectively consider the dynamics of changes in the level of development of intercultural communication skills, control and measuring materials selected were the assignments of the Level 6 Certificate of General Language Proficiency (CAE Advanced) and a test to determine the level of development of learning strategies - the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) Version 7.0. It was found that the use of educational Internet resources based on Web 2.0 technologies activates the professionally significant qualities of future specialists, the ability to carry out intercultural communication, expands the horizons of the worldview and the sphere of professional activity to the maximum possible extent, professional mobility, which is a condition and basis of professionalism and mastery. The proposed methods, techniques and technologies can be used regardless of the foreign language and have transnational significance.