Intercultural competence in teaching languages for specific purposes

Abstract

The paper analyses the concept of intercultural competence and its presence within teaching foreign languages for specific purposes in Serbia. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of the presence of intercultural competence within teaching foreign languages for specific purposes at non-philological faculties as well as the existence/nonexistence of awareness about this competence and attitudes towards the importance of intercultural competence. In addition to the theoretical analysis of the research problem, this paper presents the results of a survey conducted among lecturers of foreign languages for specific purposes at non-philological faculties of the University of Belgrade as well as the results of a survey carried out among students of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade. The survey results indicate that there is a developed awareness and a positive attitude towards intercultural competence. The results show that the importance of intercultural competence is recognised by both lecturers and students. It can therefore be concluded that the development of intercultural competence should occupy an important place in the curriculum of foreign languages for specific purposes at non-philological faculties.