THE ROLE OF MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES IN DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE AMONG UZBEK EFL LEARNERS
Ключевые слова:
intercultural competence, multimedia learning, EFL instruction, Uzbek learners, Byram's model, cultural awarenessАннотация
This article explores how multimedia resources can be systematically integrated into EFL instruction to foster intercultural competence among Uzbek learners of English at the secondary and tertiary levels. Drawing on Byram's model of Intercultural Communicative Competence and Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, the study argues that audio-visual and interactive digital materials provide an unparalleled medium for authentic cultural exposure and intercultural reflection. A ten-session instructional programme was designed and implemented with B1–B2 level Uzbek EFL students, combining video-based discussion tasks, digital storytelling, and virtual cultural exchange activities. Pre-test and post-test assessments, alongside qualitative classroom observation and student reflection journals, revealed statistically significant improvements across all four components of intercultural competence. The findings demonstrate that purposeful, pedagogically scaffolded multimedia use transforms passive cultural consumption into active intercultural learning, and carry practical implications for curriculum design and teacher education in Uzbekistan
