English Literature as A Means of Developing Intercultural and Language Competence

Аннотация

This article examines the importance of English literature in the process of learning English as a foreign language. The role of literary works in the COPYRIGHT development of linguistic competence, critical thinking © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms and intercultural perception is emphasized. The author of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. shows how English literature contributes not only to the acquisition of language skills, but also to a deeper understanding of the culture, history and mentality of the English-speaking society. Special attention is paid to the need to integrate literary texts into the educational process to form a comprehensively developed linguistic personality. Keywords: English literature; learning a foreign language; intercultural communication; linguistic competence; literary text; cultural understanding; teaching English; critical thinking. Introduction: The current stage of globalization, integration processes in Europe and the transformation of Eastern European countries have led to the intensification of intercultural contacts in various spheres of life. Communication with representatives of other cultures has become an integral part of everyday life. In this regard, the task of preparing students, especially those in non-linguistic specialties, for effective intercultural interaction is becoming increasingly relevant. The formation of intercultural competence is considered one of the strategic goals of education, but a unified methodological concept for its development in non-linguistic universities is still missing. Studying a foreign language and, especially, the literature of the country of the language being studied, seems to be an effective tool for achieving this goal. METHODS European International Journal of Pedagogics 77 https://eipublication.com/index.php/eijp European International Journal of Pedagogics The methodological basis of the article is the but also socio-cultural and communicative skills of communicative-cultural approach, as well as elements students. of the linguacultural and competence approaches to According to the works of foreign researchers (Lazar, teaching foreign languages. The methods of analyzing Duff & Maley, Kramsch), literary texts contribute to the scientific literature, summarizing pedagogical formation of emotional and cultural intelligence, experience, as well as a comparative analysis of develop empathy and intercultural imagination. Russian and international educational models, such as Literature allows you to look at the world through the the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, are used. eyes of representatives of other cultures, thereby The main attention is paid to the role of literary works creating the basis for a deeper understanding of as an authentic material capable of simultaneously intercultural differences and similarities. developing the linguistic, cultural and critical abilities Domestic authors (Karimov A.K., Abdullaeva M.A., of students. The key skills formed during learning Safarova Z.Z., Kodirova N.Kh.) emphasize that the through literature are highlighted. inclusion of literature in the educational process The obviousness of this statement allows us to give an enhances students' motivation, enriches the lexical and affirmative answer to the rhetorical question about the grammatical base, and also contributes to the need to prepare students for intercultural development of critical thinking and analytical skills. The communication. We must be oriented towards the fact role of literature in the formation of the personal that our communication partner is not just different, position of the student and his ability to independently since all people are different from each other, but interpret what he has read is especially highlighted. because his worldview and perception of the world Methodological studies show that the use of authentic were formed in different geographical, political and literary texts requires the teacher to apply a whole economic conditions, in another society, with its range of pedagogical techniques: from preliminary inherent system of values, determining the thinking cultural training to post-text analytical and project and behavior of people in this society. Awareness of activities. An important aspect is also the choice of this fact and appropriate adjustment of behavior will genres and authors relevant to the age, language level help to avoid misunderstanding and disappointment, and cultural interests of students. resentment and mutual claims and will create a Studying the literature of the country of the studied prerequisite for successful communication and language is essential for the development of students' cooperation at the intercultural level. Today, a critical abilities, their self-knowledge and understanding comprehensive concept of training students of non- of other people. It helps not only to understand the linguistic faculties as co