THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF A GEOGRAPHY TEACHER’S POLYCULTURAL COMPETENCE FORMATION

Abstract

Taking into account that a modern school is a place where representatives of different nations with unique national cultures, customs, psychological structures, and mentality study together, the paper emphasizes the polyethnic nature of education. It explains the importance of problems related to overcoming certain features and difficulties inherent in the relationship of participants in the educational process. These problems are due to the influence of behavioral stereotypes that are inherent in modern society.
 In the current conditions, the task of forming a culture of moral relations, which are based on national and universal values, becomes especially relevant in schools with multinational students. 
 The problem of the peaceful coexistence of different peoples, cultures, and states is a necessary condition for the development of human civilization. The solution to this problem is impossible without the usage of new scientific approaches and concepts. The process of forming a free personality that is ready to live in an open multicultural space becomes especially relevant. In view of this, the task of vocational education is not limited to the formation of the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, but is to organize multicultural future geography teacher training and the formation of multicultural competence as a necessary and integrated personality trait. Therefore, the important tasks of modern education are the formation of multicultural competence, which, according to the Recommendations of the Council of Europe, are considered the basis of life in a modern globalized, pluralistic society. The concept of multicultural competence in the research of Ukrainian scientists is analyzed and the author’s definition of «multicultural competence» is formed in the article. The main aspects of multicultural competence are highlighted. These are knowledge, skills, and abilities. Various views of scientists on the structure of multicultural competence are studied. Based on these studies, the following components are identified, i.e., motivational, cognitive, activity, and practical. An example of multicultural competence formation through the study of geographical disciplines and the integrated course «Multicultural Geography» in higher education institutions is given. Prospects for further research in this area are highlighted.