O nauczycielu języków obcych jako mediatorze interkulturowym, jego kompetencjach zawodowych, osobistych, empatii, otwartości, wykształceniu i stojących przed nim wyzwaniach
About the foreign language teacher as an intercultural mediator, his professional and personal competences, empathy, openness, education and the challenges he faces

Anna Grabowska talks to Krystyna Mihułka

Author(s): Krystyna Mihułka, Anna Grabowska
Subject(s): Language studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: intercultural competence; intercultural communication competence; intercultural awareness; language teacher; personal and professional competencies; initial and in-service training of foreign language
Summary/Abstract: Language teaching stands not only for the development of language skills, but also for preparing students to live in a globalised world. Shaping intercultural communication competence affects initial and in-service training of language teachers, which should support the development of the skill to translate intercultural experiences into knowledge in order to be enable to act as an intercultural mediator and speaker. Thus, intercultural education of future foreign language teachers should not only take place within the framework of intercultural communication classes, but should also be a part of practical language learning and methodology, experiencing otherness during international academic mobility and cultural studies sensu largo. During this interview interlocutors refer to the results of recent Polish and international studies, which unfortunately confirm that although the vast majority of the respondents emphasise the importance of the intercultural factor and advocate the implementation of intercultural objectives in language education, their declarations are hardly reflected in the actual language teaching at school. The interview is also a call to give due weight to the personal competences of language teachers and their integrity with the attitudes represented in the classroom, which are linked by the ability to reflect critically on professional experience and knowledge.

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