INTEGRATING SOCIO-CULTURAL COMPETENCE INTO TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: A US HIGHER EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/NPU-VOU.2026.1(100).12Keywords:
sociocultural competence, ESL pedagogy, higher education, intercultural competence, teaching methodology, pedagogical adaptationAbstract
The author of the article explores the theoretical foundations and practical strategies for integrating sociocultural competence (SCC) into ESL instruction, primarily based on the US higher education experience. She points out the shift from linguistic accuracy to sociocultural appropriateness. It is especially relevant for Ukrainian higher education amidst contemporary societal shifts. The study also systematizes a comprehensive pedagogical framework categorized into four groups: cognitive-comparative analysis, interactive-modeling tasks, project-based research methods, and direct cross-cultural interaction. Drawing on the works of leading Ukrainian and foreign scholars, the research identifies SCC as an important prerequisite for academic success and social integration. The author concludes that the key to promoting genuine intercultural fluency lies in the synergistic combination of the mentioned methods, transforming the language classroom into a space for career development and global advocacy.
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