Preparing Students For Cross Cultural Interaction: Modular And Distance Learning Technologies

The article aims to study modular technologies in the framework of preparing university students for cross - cultural interaction. In this regard special attention should be paid to distance learning due to the updated requirements for the educational process at universities. Theoretical analysis shows that the modular approach is one of the relevant ones. It is a unified system that provides the individualization of training when each student can be independent in selecting the content of training, its development, based on personal characteristics and educational needs. In accordance with this approach a full-fledged online module should include instructive, informational, communicative and reflective parts. This strategy gives teachers an opportunity to build the online educational process more efficiently focusing on the personal significant results. The study also reveals the strategy of web-video conferences and webinars organization using BigBlueButton. This plugin provides the best direct communication tools and their use in the process of developing cross-cultural communication competence. The practical part of the research is based on the assessment of distance learning module created as a part of the course ‘Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages’ for university students. The results of our experiment show that properly constructed learning path enables university students to complete the course successfully. Thus, the organization of distance learning has a huge potential for the development of cross-cultural communication competence. University students obtain more opportunities to master their language skills and develop the ability to interact with the representatives of other cultures.