Cultural Studies as a Didactic Means of Improving Intercultural Language Education

Abstract

Though the issues of integrating cultural studies in language education are often raised in FLT scholarly works (M. Byram- V. Esarte-Sarries, G. Zarate and others), but the question arises what kind of interdisciplinary cultural studies and for what didactic purposes is really needed at different levels of university education. The paper starts with looking at and showing the differences between the following concepts: "cultural studies as a branch of culturology (science of culture)", "cultural studies as an inseparable part of modern language pedagogy" and "Cultural Studies as a university subject" with the view to their didactic potential, aims - outcomes as a means of cultural education. The author goes on with giving an insight into the essential characteristics of the three types of cultural studies /CS/ under consideration and then focuses on the CS as a branch of language pedagogy - CS as a university subject, discussing their didactic values for modelling appropriate multi-level intercultural education though all the languages studied and co-learnt at university. The system of interrelated didactic principles of designing culture-oriented educational programmes, syllabuses and courses that is outlined in the paper includes such principles as the principles of the dialogue of cultures - civilizations, creating didactically appropriate educational space problem-oriented learning environment.Keywords: cultural studies, language pedagogy, multi-level pluricultural education, intercultural communicative competence, dialogue of cultures and civilisations, didactic appropriateness of educational environment, problem-oriented learning environment.1.