INTEGRATING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES AT SCHOOL IN CLASSROOMS

Abstract

This paper explores the critical necessity of integrating the intercultural component into the process of foreign language education. In an increasingly globalized society, linguistic proficiency alone is insufficient for effective communication; learners must also possess the cultural intelligence to navigate diverse social norms, values, and non-verbal cues.The study examines current pedagogical frameworks that shift the focus from a purely "native-speaker" model toward Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC)