MEASURING THE LEVEL OF INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT OF BACHELORS IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING OF ENGLISH LEXICOLOGY AND PHRASEOLOGY

Abstract

The article analyses the problem of formation of intercultural competence of bachelors of English Philology while studying Lexicology and Phraseology. The results of assessing the level of formation of intercultural competence and the impact of the obtained results on its further development are presented. The study uses a questionnaire method that involved a survey of teachers and students. The questionnaire results showed that teachers understand the concept of “intercultural competency” and recognize the importance of its development. However, many of them aim to improve their competencies as they continue to use outdated methods and standards due to the lack of academic hours and the absence of sociocultural-oriented material in textbooks. The survey aimed to identify the respondents’ understanding of “intercultural competency”, assess their readiness to apply knowledge and skills in intercultural communication, and evaluate their ability to analyze the communication outcomes. It also sought to define the sources of motivation and the challenges in developing this competency. The study found that the key motivators for students to engage with other cultures include the willingness to improve their language skills, interact with people of different nationalities, learn about other cultures (and compare them to their own), and establish international contacts for opportunities to go abroad. The difficulties students face while learning lexicology and phraseology include mastering theoretical material, dealing with complex and ambiguous tasks, anxiety about making mistakes, and a lack of engaging tasks focused on the culture of English-speaking countries. It was found that most students show lack of interest in the cultural peculiarities of other nations, their value systems and behavioral norms, they revealed an inability to conduct a dialogue, resolve conflicts with foreigners, and analyze their own activities.