THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN THE TRAINING OF FUTURE PHILOLOGISTS IN POLISH STUDIES

Abstract

The article explores the relationship between foreign language competence and the ability for intercultural communication within the framework of training future philologists specializing in Polish studies. It emphasizes that foreign language competence is a multi-component construct encompassing speech skills, cognitive knowledge, sociocultural awareness, and professionally oriented abilities. It serves not only as a tool for effective communication but also as a vital factor in professional self-realization in a globalized environment. Successful acquisition of Polish as a foreign language requires more than formal knowledge of grammar and vocabulary; it also demands an understanding of the mental, cultural, and behavioral models of another society. Intercultural communication is viewed as the ability to engage in productive interaction with representatives of other cultures based on empathy, openness, flexible thinking, and critical reflection on one’s own cultural identity. The article analyzes modern pedagogical strategies for developing these competencies, including translation practice, work with authentic materials, and interactive learning methods (role plays, case studies, discussions), along with student participation in interdisciplinary and international projects. Examples of successful educational practices at the Department of Slavic Philology of Khmelnytskyi National University are presented, such as the "Translator's Code" project, international cooperation with educational institutions in Poland and the Czech Republic, and student involvement in the creation of an interactive dictionary of Polish key words. These initiatives provide deep immersion in real intercultural environments and contribute to the development of linguistic sensitivity, communicative flexibility, and critical thinking. The study substantiates that only a holistic, integrated, interdisciplinary approach to philological education can foster a modern specialist capable of effective performance in a multilingual and multicultural world.