Intercultural Aspects Research Articles

Religion and mental health: an Eastern Mediterranean region perspective.

In the last decade, spirituality gained increasing recognition, with an individualized approach to the significance of symptoms and the purpose of treatment. Many psychiatrists started adopting the term "biopsychosocial-spiritual" management. Modern psychological therapies have drawn from the principles of ancient Eastern traditions. However, the spiritual beliefs within Islam and their impact on mental well-being have yet to be studied sufficiently. The Eastern Mediterranean region is largely Muslim and shares similar cultural beliefs. This paper explores some of these beliefs and their impact on perceptions of mental health and help-seeking behavior. The paper will focus primarily on the religious ideologies, the concepts of punishment and reward from Allah (God) in the context of the high stigma associated with mental illness in the region, and the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward people with mental illness. We will explore cultural beliefs in possession, evil eye, and black magic and how they influence treatment adherence. Traditional and faith healers remain very popular in this part of the world and are often the first line of treatment for people presenting with mental illness. Suicide and self-harming are particularly sensitive areas due to their religious implications in life and death, as well as the afterlife. Despite the global interest in the Eastern Mediterranean region, there still is a shortage of research on the intercultural aspects of this region, especially regarding mental health assessments. In this regard, we will explore some published literature from Qatar and draw comparisons with regional findings.

Коммуникативная импозитивность: систематический обзор

The purpose of the study is to review Russian and English-language publications that directly or indirectly address communicative imposition. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the fact that for the first time information on communicative imposition is summarized in the work, the concept of communicative imposition is clarified, and the main motives for using impositive statements and related relevant phenomena are revealed. The article describes the etymology of the lexeme " imposition ", as well as its introduction into scientific use. Using the elements of the method of systematic review of the litera-ture, the main provisions of the works of domestic and foreign researchers are presented. The intercultural aspect of the phenomenon is noted, the consideration of which can greatly affect the environmental friendliness of communication. As a result, it was determined that imposition correlates with linguistic (persistence) and socially regulated (power distance) phenomena. Aggravation of imposition often occurs as a result of leaving the "communicative corridor" of communication participants. imposition is a communicative effect associated with a threat to the speaker's face, which is culturally specific. The results of the study can be used to improve the theory of politeness and the practice of intercultural communication

INFORMATION AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT AND TOOLS FOR ASSESSING EMPLOYEE LOYALTY IN ENTERPRISES

In the context of increasing competition and dynamic changes in the global economy, employee loyalty emerges as a key factor for the stability and success of enterprises. A high level of employee loyalty correlates with increased productivity, optimized costs for recruiting and adapting new employees, and the strengthening of the company’s positive image. Therefore, the development and implementation of effective methods for assessing loyalty is an urgent need for businesses. This study aims to systematize and analyze modern tools and methodologies for evaluating employee loyalty, identifying their effectiveness and features of application in various conditions and cultural contexts. The research is based on a survey of 525 employees of Ukrainian enterprises using Google Forms in two stages. Methods of questionnaires, interviews, statistical and content analysis were used. The research results confirmed the significance of integrating different assessment methods: from traditional surveys to modern analytical tools. It was shown that the automation of data collection and analysis significantly increases the accuracy of assessments and allows for the identification of deep patterns in employee behavior. The positive impact of corporate social responsibility on employee loyalty was also noted. For further development in this field, it is important to explore the impact of digitalization on loyalty assessment processes, particularly through the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Additionally, it is necessary to study the intercultural aspects of assessment methods and adapt them to the needs of the globalized labor market. The importance of researching hybrid and remote work forms, as well as studying the social and psychological factors that influence employee loyalty, deserves special attention.

Cross-cultural aspects of streetscape perception

Public space auditing is an efficient tool for urban planning of active mobility infrastructures. It enables real estate developers and urban planners to judge the level of comfort their design of sidewalks and public places can provide. Most of the research focus on the methodology to characterize the satisfaction of a public space, but there is a lack of knowledge about inter-cultural aspects of such methods. Our main research question is whether there is consistency in the way in which French and Spanish auditors perceived an urban streetscape: would they rate a public space the same and what features would be differently audited. We selected three urban identities of a modern district representing a variety of urban form: a public place with a tramway station, a commercial street designed as a strip mall, and green residential area with leisure activities. Each of these points of view were audited by a pool of French and Spanish participants according to criteria related to buildings’ architecture and sidewalks’ design for walkability and cyclability purposes. Both virtual reality and real scenes of the public spaces were recorded in videos and provided to participants for rating purposes. Architectural ambiances were measured with qualitative scales, quality of public space was measured with two integrated indicators of pedestrian level of service, and the accordance of infrastructures for active mobility was probed with individual scales. Results from the audit suggest that some streetscape impressions may be quite similar when assessed with various types of measurement, in different cultural contexts: scale, size and architectural style stimulate the same kind of feelings, and the quality of public spaces were perceived equivalently by the two communities as well as bikeability. Dissimilarities in perception occurred for the perception of materials and general feelings of the areas, and in the rating of walkability and in preferences for walking.

IMPACT OF E-COMMERCE ON INTERCULTURAL ASPECTS OF COMMUNICATION

Digitalization of business in combination with cultural diversity has created a new space and conditions where communication becomes a challenge. The purpose of the article is to identify intercultural aspects of communication in the context of digital business development. It is established that cultural sensitivity in business involves, on one hand, the formation of respect for legal and moral norms specific to a particular community, and on the other hand, enhances the operational efficiency of the company. It is argued that cultural factors influence decision-making in international business, and awareness and knowledge of cultural differences enhance the competitiveness of the company. It is postulated that the intercultural competencies of managers should be viewed in terms of their new functions and socio-professional roles in transnational organizations and through the lens of their cultural intelligence, which facilitates adaptation to new cultural realities and cultural freedom—a set of necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities for a manager in an international and even global dimension. The top 10 countries in the Digital Technology Usage Index (NRI) reveal three trends: they belong to high-income countries, demonstrate reliable network readiness in all dimensions, and European countries continue to dominate the list. These trends persisted in the 2023 ranking. The challenges hindering the development of digital trends and the transformation of the Ukrainian economy into a digital one are substantiated. Two scenarios for the development of digital business in Ukraine are identified depending on the assessment of the criticality and necessity of changes in the traditional economic structure: the inertial (evolutionary) and the targeted (forced). In the case of implementing the inertial scenario, the Ukrainian economy will remain inefficient, labor migration will continue, and Ukrainian products will be non-competitive in external markets. The targeted scenario envisions the transition of the Ukrainian economy to a digital one within 3-5 years. The result will be the emergence of new norms, standards, and value systems. The internationalization of management changes the traditional model of management communications.

INTERCULTURAL ASPECT: DIDACTIC AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING A SECOND FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The article deals with the didactic and methodological principles of teaching a second foreign language in general secondary education institutions in the light of the intercultural aspect. The professional literature on the problem of organizing the educational process of teaching a foreign language and culture in general and German as a second foreign language in particular is analyzed. Attention is focused on the principles of learning as a regulator of thinking and speaking processes of understanding and generating foreign language information. The importance of adherence to the principles and their advantages in the formation of skills and abilities of foreign language communicative competence is presented. The author singles out the principle of visibility, the observance of which involves and interconnects other principles, for example: scientificity, feasibility, creativity and individualization. The rules that can dominate in the development of the educational process of teaching a second foreign language are formulated, where visibility as a didactic principle is internalized in the methodological principle of communicative approach. Examples in German of the implementation of the principle of communicativeness, in particular the principle of real authentic communication, are given. Three aspects for achieving communicative goals with the characteristics of the culture of speech are distinguished. The requirements for compiling teaching and learning materials, which are also an integral component of the educational process of teaching a second foreign language, are specified. The author describes the principle of taking into account the native language and culture, when students learn to realize the culture of the peoples of the language being taught. A comparison of linguistic features in German and Ukrainian socio-cultures is presented. The factor of the phenomenon of culture, which is thematized to students in the educational process through the prism of a foreign language and comparing the facts of the cultural experience of the peoples whose language is studied with the experience of the people whose heritage is the Ukrainian language, is highlighted.

ІНТЕРНЕТ-ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЯК ЗАСІБ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ НАВЧАННЯ ПИСЕМНОГО МОВЛЕННЯ ІНОЗЕМНОЮ МОВОЮ В УМОВАХ МІЖКУЛЬТУРНОЇ КОМУНІКАЦІЇ

The article deals with the problem of teaching foreign language writing to the students of higher educational institutions in the context of intercultural communication. The difficulties encountered by the subjects of the educational process during the formation of communicative abilities in a foreign language written communication have been indicated, and the way of solving the problem with the help of Internet technologies as a means of organizing the educational process of teaching writing to students of higher educational institutions has been proposed. The emphasis has been put on the formation of intercultural competence in the context of written communication activity in a foreign language. The professional literature on the problem has been analyzed and the advantages of Internet technologies as a learning tool have been clarified, in particular blog-, tandem-, postcrossing technologies for optimizing the educational process of the students of higher educational institutions in the course of writing activity inside or outside the classroom. The advantages of Internet teaching technology have been indicated and compared with the main learning tool – a textbook. The paper outlines the place and role of blog, tandem and postcrossing as learning tools in written communication at the intercultural level. The goals and objectives of Internet technologies with corresponding strategies have been specified. The article presents didactic possibilities of using blog-, tandem-and postcrossing technologies for the formation of intercultural aspect of written communication of higher educational institutions’ students. The empirical research with the help of diagrams based on the survey of the students of different specialities at four Ukrainian universities has been described. The novelty of the study lies in the use of innovative technologies for teaching and learning a foreign language and culture in the context of a cultural approach to the formation of written communication skills in a foreign language at the level of intercultural communication.

Features of intercultural communication of students from different countries when learning a foreign language in universities of the China

Relevance. In the context of education in the modern world, where globalisation has become an integral part of life, the topic of intercultural communication of students from different countries when learning a foreign language in Chinese educational institutions is of particular relevance. This aspect of education is becoming increasingly important, as today students from distinct cultures and nationalities often come together in learning communities, enriching their knowledge and experience through intercultural interactions.Purpose. The purpose of this paper was to examine and analyse the impact of intercultural communication on the learning process of international students in Chinese universities.Methodology. The study used analytical method and systematisation.Results. The study found opportunities for intercultural exchange among students from different countries in Chinese universities when learning a foreign language. As a result of this study, the influence of intercultural communication on the effectiveness of teaching international students was investigated. This study found out how interactions between students from distinct cultures affect their ability to acquire a new language, and what factors facilitate or hinder successful communication. The study also investigated the specific features of interaction between students from distinct cultures and analysed its influence on the adaptation and learning process, which included the study of social adaptation, the influence of cultural stereotypes, as well as interaction with local students and teachers.Conclusions. The results of this study can serve as a basis for a more profound understanding of the needs of international students and the development of teaching methods that consider intercultural aspects.

The Intercultural Aspect of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language in Indonesia

The intercultural aspect is an important component in Arabic language teaching in Indonesia. That is because intercultural understanding is the basis for learners to be able to communicate and interact in Arabic effectively and efficiently. This paper examines the importance of the role of intercultural knowledge and understanding in teaching Arabic as a foreign language for Indonesian learners. The aim of this paper is to form an intercultural understanding of the teaching of Arabic language as an intercultural understanding for Indonesian students. The method used in studying this research is the method of studying literature with a qualitative approach. Data collection is done by managing material from books, journals, research results, and newspapers. The method used in reviewing this research is a literature study. To find out the use of cultural aspects in teaching Arabic, as a foreign language, this study will discuss four al, namely: (1) The Role of Culture in Language (2) Intercultural Competence in Language Learning (3) Language Teacher, Cultural Teacher (4) Intercultural in Arabic Language Culture. The conclusion of this paper is the importance of intercultural understanding in shaping intercultural aspects in the learning of Arabic at the level of Indonesian students. His contribution is that the paper can be used as a basic reference to shape the intercultural aspect and become a fundamental reference in developing the intercultural aspect of the Arabic language in Indonesia especially for students.

Quebrando barreiras na filosofia intercultural: o poder da empatia e do inter-relacionamento

Abstract: An important issue in intercultural philosophy concerns the methods employed to investigate thinking that has been developed in different cultural contexts. In a globalized world, it is increasingly necessary to incorporate diverse traditions of thought that are derived from distinct cultural, historical and linguistic backgrounds into academic philosophical work. However, the question remains: how can one learn from other philosophical traditions without falling into a dualistic or relativistic perspective? To address this, I analyze two concepts developed by Nishitani Keiji (1900-1990) in Religion and Nothingness, as well as his interpretation of “learning” (jap. narau 習う) and empathy as a tool for genuine mutual understanding. Additionally, I explore the concept of reciprocal interpenetration (jap. egoteki sōnyū 回互的相入), as a means to reassess intercultural philosophical methods. Thus, by applying the concepts presented by Nishitani in the intercultural aspect of philosophy, I believe we can avoid the problem of dualism and relativism, which ultimately hinder the approach and comprehension of philosophy in a pluralistic and inclusive way.

Préparer à évoluer dans un environnement professionnel multiculturel : l’(inter)culturel dans les manuels de spécialité affaires

The article examines the ways intercultural aspects are dealt with in textbooks for learning business language (in the broad sense) in French, Spanish and Italian. The authors of the textbooks analyzed represent different approaches, both at the level of the declared learning objectives and at the level of the techniques applied. Among the textbooks analyzed there are also those oriented towards the development of intercultural skills. Their goal is not so much to prepare the learner to evolve in a given culture, but to make them aware of the differences between their own and the target culture(s)and to be able to mediate between the representatives of each of them. Although in a textbook for the teaching/learning of a foreign language for specialized purposes, intercultural training preparing for “culture shock” must necessarily be limited, the examples observed show that educators aware of the importance of this issue can offer interesting solutions and proposals.

A subsystem of exercises for the formation of professionally directed reading competence of future German teachers during independent work

The article deals with the problem of formation of professionally oriented competence in the pre-service German teachers training during independent work. For this purpose, a subsystem of exercises is presented for the formation of receptive skills and abilities (reading). The professional literature on the problem was analyzed, which became the basis for compilingand making up exercises for teaching reading during independent work with a professionally oriented dominant. The author singled out the goals of the formation of professionally oriented reading competence and proposed two blocks of exercises at the receptive level of the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence. Special attention is focused on the cultural content of the exercises subsystem and on the intercultural aspect in particular. To ensure the procedural basis of the content, examples of different types of receptive exercises for teaching reading are provided, taking into account the communicative goal of perceiving and understanding information. The article draws attention to innovative learning technologies, in particular Internet technologies, which optimize the performance of exercises within the students’ independent work. Two blocks of exercises are demonstrated, which cover groups of exercises for the formation of language and speech competences. A practical goal and an educational strategy of the exercises are formulated. Their educational and cultural potential is described. The leading actions of a foreign language lecturer for the formation of communicative skills and abilities in reading of the pre-service German teachers are determined.

Synchronous online instrumental music teaching in cross-cultural learning contexts

This scoping review addresses two questions: (1) How can previous research inform approaches to synchronous online instrumental music teaching for cross-cultural learning in the field of Western classical music? and (2) What does the corpus of existing studies suggest about Chinese student experiences with western instrumental pedagogy and synchronous online teaching? Based on a systematic examination of 100+ articles from refereed journals in English across the past two decades, the review reveals cultural differences in autonomy and student-centeredness in classical instrument pedagogy traditions. In China, new pragmatic concepts appear as Confucian-Dewey fusion approaches and a distinctive music pedagogy tradition influenced by Russian and Germanic traditions and Chinese philosophy. The review also found that synchronous online instrumental music teaching can be efficient despite technical issues and latency, and the format may enhance forms of dialogue between students and teachers. The review shows little research on intercultural aspects of synchronous online musical instrument teaching, particularly addressing interaction and communication between students and teachers. Moreover, there is a widespread need for competence development for effectively approaching the diversity of music teaching and learning cultures worldwide in the online learning environment.

TEACHING AND LEARNING BUSINESS GERMAN: DIDACTIC APPROACHES

<p><span>The design of lessons for the Business German subject necessitates adherence to specific didactic parameters to ensure the effectiveness of the learning process. This article elucidates critical factors to contemplate when strategizing and conducting Business German classes. Commencing with a comprehensive needs analysis is pivotal when imparting the technical language of Business German. It is imperative to discern the precise requirements of learners while taking into account their objectives, interests, and professional backgrounds. Subsequently, teaching content and learning objectives can be meticulously outlined. The utilization of is paramount, offering learners insights into the real-world business environment and illustrating the application of technical language within a professional context. Additionally, it is imperative to incorporate intercultural aspects, as Business German is frequently employed within an international framework. Given the ever-evolving nature of the economy, it is vital to ensure that Business German classes remain current. Inclusion of contemporary examples, case studies, and information regarding economic developments is essential to enrich the lessons. This approach provides learners with insights into ongoing trends and challenges in the business world. Consequently, learners can gain a deeper understanding of how terminology is applied in real economic contexts and prepare themselves for the dynamic nature of the business landscape. Through consistent updates to teaching content, learners can also cultivate the skills needed to analyze and critically assess information from diverse sources, thereby continually expanding their proficiency in Business German.</span></p><p><span><strong><span>Keywords: </span></strong><span>Business German, authentic materials, technical Language Business Language, Terminology, Didactics, intercultural communication.</span></span></p>

The system of exercises and tasks for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence of prospective teachers of the german language

Exercises and tasks serve as learning tools for modeling a foreign language environment, a motive for communication, and a tool for improving cognitive-communicative and metacognitive learning strategies. The article deals with the methodical features of compiling a system of exercises and tasks for mastering the German language in the context of intercultural communication. The article considers a system of exercises and tasks for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence of future teachers during self-study work. An analysis of the specialized literature was carried out, which became the basis for the theoretical justification of the developing and use of exercises and tasks for the formation of a cultural secondary language personality. The generalized system covers all types of speech activities and contains communicative, semi-communicative and non-communicative exercises of a receptive, reproductive and productive nature, with the aim of forming and developing language and speech foreign language skills and abilities, which are based on the intercultural aspect. The author gives a number of examples of exercises according to the determined levels of mastering German-language material, namely receptive, reproductive-productive and creative. The criteria for developing exercises have been specified: focus on receiving or issuing information; communicativeness; motivation; level of action management; presence/absence of a game component; presence/absence of visual and illustrative supports; method of performing the exercise; cultural and emotional orientation of exercises. The system of exercises consists of subsystems, the goals of which are aimed at mastering the German language skills and abilities in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The specifics of using the acquired information for oral and written communication were studied. The article describes in detail the course of foreign language activities to ensure the consistent use of foreign language information for the purpose of acquiring cultural, linguistic, sociocultural knowledge and developing skills and abilities of intercultural communication. Special attention is given to the intercultural aspect of the content, the manifestation of which is the language and speech material, the communicative behavior of interlocutors during the intercultural communication. Interactive, innovative technologies and teaching methods are proposed for the effective application of exercises in order to optimize the educational process of future teachers during independent work.

Intercultural aspects of innovation management on example of innovation adoption in Eastern European countries

Intercultural aspects of innovation management on example of innovation adoption in Eastern European countries

Lexical Competence Formative Control in Development of Intercultural Foreign Language Communicative Competence of Prospective German Language Teachers

Introduction. The article examines the formative control of lexical competence in the conditions of the formation of intercultural communication in the German language. Attention is focused on the interrelation of control objects with the educational program of specialty 014 “Secondary education.” Purpose. The paper shows successful mastery of the lexical aspect; it depends on certain linguistic strategies, expressed through techniques, methods, and means of their implementation. The objects of lexical competence control are described and examples of types of exercises for their implementation are given. Methods. The professional competencies of the educational program have been analyzed and knowledge, skills, and abilities were singled out as objects of lexical competence control in the German language. The professional literature on the issue of control/self-control, and evaluation/self-evaluation in the process of formation of foreign language skills and abilities have been analyzed. Results. The importance of the linguistic base for the development of intercultural foreign language communicative competence of prospective German language teachers is noted. Improving lexical skills and abilities through using a variety of lexical and phraseological units optimizes the acquisition of cultural knowledge about the countries and languages being studied. With the help of the lexical aspect, it is possible to form a linguistic picture of the world, to reproduce the value orientations of the peoples whose language has become the subject of study. Conclusion. Thus, examples of communicative productive exercises using the method of problem-based learning and a cultural assimilator for lexical competence formative control are given. The course of exercises is described, and attention is also focused on their content, the intercultural aspect of which determines the national-cultural characteristics of the German language.

Polycode Representation of Kinesthetic Phrasemes: Metaphorical and Semiotic Perspectives

The study is devoted to the analysis of somatic metaphor in the political communication, considered as a syncteric metaphorical-semiotic structure, which serves as one of the ways to encode ideological, cultural, evaluative, emotional, argumentative and other types of meanings. The necessity for a detailed analysis of the implementation of the actional code in the media political space was dictated by the need to study the mechanisms of interaction between kinesthetic and linguistic signs as powerful means of persuasion and effective impact on the readership. The study is based on an integral semiotic approach which involves the use of semantic-cognitive analysis, discourse analysis, content analysis, methods of contextual interpretation and conceptual metaphorical modeling, as well as the involvement of interdisciplinary information of the fields of cultural studies, sociology, psychology of communication and political science. The material of the study is represented by electronic mass media analytical and news reports on the political subjects with the focus on verbal and non-verbal somatisms. It was found that the system of archaic ideas and ritual actions determines the metaphorization and symbolization of related and free phraseological formations, the origin of which is due to the markedness of the elements of the non-verbal body code. Intercultural analogy and pragmatic parallelism of non-verbal and verbal representations of somatic units along with semiotic interpretation of the original meaning is revealed. Differences in communicative pragmatics and axiology of somatisms identical in structure and content in the intercultural aspect are characterized. Techniques for constructing the external and internal syntax of the actional code are described, models for assembling kinesthetic phrasemes into gestalt are demonstrated, and algorithms for unpacking/decoding of their meaning are demonstrated. The synergy of verbal and actional languages of communication in the construction of a cognitive-linguistic picture of the political world is noted.

Intercultural Aspects in the Accounting System in Romania and Republic of Bulgaria

Intercultural Aspects in the Accounting System in Romania and Republic of Bulgaria

Kompetencja międzykulturowa a umiejętność sporządzenia dokumentów aplikacyjnych (na materiale języka niemieckiego)

On the job market today, people with a (very) good knowledge of a foreign language, such as German, are in demand. Candidates are required to submit their application documents in this language. Unfortunately, having grammatical correctness and a rich vocabulary are not enough to write a job application and a CV. In order to prepare these documents correctly, it is necessary to know the differences between one’s own and the other culture, in this case the culture of German-speaking countries. The aim of this paper is to present the findings of an exploratory study examining errors students made naming and expressing selected elements of the non-lingual reality that represent a specific kind of reflection of new and often foreign realities in covering letters and CVs. Due to the limited framework of this paper, it is focused on intercultural aspects. While these seem to be very simple, they may cause difficulties because of the characteristic way they are presented in the acquired language, such as the use of courtesy rules, the recording of the date, giving of personal data, writing about foreign languages skills or providing information about a driving licence.