STUDYING CULTURES AS A METHOD OF ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Abstract

The objective of the research is studying the role of native and foreign cultures in the process of foreign language teaching, which helps students to obtain deeper knowledge of a foreign language by studying foreign culture, the mentality of the people and values of native speakers. To become proficient in foreign languages is impossible without understanding a foreign culture. Research methods used by the author are observation, analysis and synthesis, description and comparison, and the method of systematic approach. The author uses findings of the research carried out among the law students of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation specializing in law. The article contains assignments given to the leaners of the Financial university at the lessons of Intercultural Communication. Results of the research show that teachers of foreign languages have to form the sociocultural competence in the framework of teaching a foreign language. The prospects of the research are undoubtedly related to the necessity of overcoming difficulties of communication in foreign languages between the representatives of different cultures, forming intercultural skills, increasing the interest towards native culture and realizing the importance of culture dialogue. The main obstacle is a small number of hours given to the process of foreign language learning, but it also motivates the teachers of foreign languages to create tasks which stimulate the desire of students to learn both the language and culture of another country and through this interest, increasing their interest to foreign cultural values.