Universal competence of intercultural interaction in learning a foreign language in professional activities

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of formation of universal competencies. The purpose of the work is to determine the optimal conditions for efficient formation of universal competencies of intercultural interaction. The authors substantiate the idea that, along with professional competencies, the employers increasingly demand a high level of universal competencies in modern graduates of higher educational institutions. The article dwells on the peculiarities of formation of intercultural-interaction universal competence as a complex characteristic of the graduate’s aptitude to apply the acquired foreign-language knowledge, skills and abilities in standard and professional situations. The research identified the interconnection between the universal professional and general professional competencies. The article considers the subject-oriented methods of teaching a foreign language, which along with the universal competence, contribute to the formation of students’ GPC (general professional competencies) and PC (professional competencies). The basic concepts in respect of the above are presented and analysed; the ratio of maturity of this competence in the process of foreign language teaching is highlighted. A number of methods necessary for the formation of intercultural-interaction universal competence were identified for the development of the educational/methodological complex under the discipline “Foreign language in professional activities” within the system of training for the master degree in the field 38.04.01 “Economics”. The considered subject will be interesting for specialists in different spheres of humanitarian knowledge: foreign language teachers of higher educational institutions, representatives of educational and methodical associations, methodologists.

Keywords

• universal competence
• intercultural interaction
• ratio