The role of studying foreign literature in the formation of students' intercultural competence

Abstract

When studying the issues of intercultural communication, an important role is played by the study of foreign literature, which becomes an inexhaustible source of information about the culture, history and mentality of the peoples of the world. It is important to note that in the modern world, when society is increasingly becoming multicultural, the study of foreign literary works is becoming one of the main methods of forming students' intercultural competence. In 2018, 67% of Russian university teachers emphasize the importance of studying foreign literature as an integral element of the pedagogical process at the university. Knowledge of foreign literature helps them to better understand a foreign language and culture. Thus, the awareness of the importance of foreign literature in the formation of intercultural competence is becoming more and more obvious for both students and teachers. Moreover, a number of studies confirm the effectiveness of using foreign literature in teaching. The question of specific mechanisms by which the study of foreign literature contributes to the formation of intercultural competence still remains open. There is a need for a deeper study of this problem, including the analysis of the specifics of the perception of foreign literature by students, as well as the study of the influence of various genres and directions of foreign literature on the formation of intercultural competence.