Gaining Competence for Intercultural Communication of Students and Pedagogical Conditions for Its Realisation

Abstract

The relevance of the topic under study resulted from the increase in academic migration across the globe, and in particular, across Russia. The present research was aimed at investigating the formation of international university students’ readiness for intercultural communication and identifying pedagogical conditions for its realisation. The article set the task to consider the intercultural communication of university students not only as a means of teaching but also as an opportunity to live and work in the sociocultural space of Russia. The study provided an analysis of the intercultural communication proficiency of 54 international students of the pedagogical university from three CIS countries. As a result, it was found that students’ desire to comprehend and use the provided learning material encourages them to study Russian. Moreover, it was noted that the process of obtaining professionally important information contributes to the development of written and oral communication skills. The paper delivered an argument that the study of Russian as a foreign language helps students to expand future career prospects and improves their professional abilities (according to the test results, an average of 39% of participants reached a moderate level of language proficiency, and 37% reached an advanced level). Besides, the article designated the necessary conditions for the realisation of intercultural communication as the formation of students’ individual learning trajectory, the use of interactive training methods, and the provision of students’ self-control in the process of gaining competence for intercultural communication. The obtained study outcomes make itpossible to prepare and test a set of specially designed tasks essential for the effective preparation of university students for intercultural communication. Research findings can be used during the practical work of teachers of Russian as a foreign language in higher and secondary educational institutions, as well as during the work in the field of intercultural communication. © 2021, FACTEACHEREDUCATION. All rights reserved.