Addressing Difficulties In Intercultural Communication With Communication Training Sessions

Abstract

Today, the phenomenon of multiculturalism is widely acknowledged and accepted by educational establishments, businesses and state institutions. However, the current education system often fails to meet such educational needs of students as the building of psychological readiness for intercultural communication, hence necessitating the development of related programmes. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was comprised of works by scholars on psychological problems associated with the process of intercultural communication. The study included empirical methods in the form of an ascertaining experiment and testing with psychodiagnostic techniques, in particular a Difficulties During Foreign Language Classes questionnaire and a Mental State of Students During Foreign Language Classes questionnaire by S.A. Nurmukhambetova. The research showed that the majority of students face various difficulties in intercultural communication; only 11.1% of the subjects denied having any difficulties. Thus, the building of psychological readiness for intercultural communication in students should be of a comprehensive nature and consist of such elements as preparing a learning environment that encourages intercultural communication, implementing intercultural training sessions in educational processes, and improving psychological mechanisms of empathy and self-reflection in students.