Experience of developing schoolchildren’s communicative skills through culturally marked vocabulary

Background. In today’s globalized world, foreign language communicative skills and sociocultural awareness among students are essential for fostering productive international cooperation. This makes it important to find effective didactic tools at different stages of learning. Culturally marked vocabulary can serve a powerful tool for developing communicative skills and understanding other culture however its potential at the intermediate stage of school education remains understudied. The authors prove that using varied teaching methods and techniques based on culturally marked vocabulary contributes to the effective development of students' foreign language communicative skills.  

Purpose. Providing a theoretical foundation and practical validation of the potential of culturally marked vocabulary in developing foreign-language communicative skills among secondary school students.  

Materials and methods. The study employs a combination of complementary research methods, including content analysis of scientific and educational literature, analysis of advanced pedagogical experience, empirical methods (observation, surveys, experimental teaching, testing), and mathematical methods for processing the obtained results.  

Results. The increasing societal demand for specialists with advanced foreign language communication skills necessitates the search for effective didactic tools to foster their development. In this regard, the integration of culturally marked vocabulary, reflecting the unique characteristics of a foreign culture, serves as a valuable tool in cultivating students' communicative skills in both receptive and productive speech activities. The potential of culturally-specific lexis is realized through a multi-stage process (preparatory, core, reflective-evaluative) involving the use of communicative and interactive teaching methods and authentic materials. Targeted and systematic work with culturally marked vocabulary has a comprehensive outcome, manifested in expanded student vocabulary, interconnected development of oral and written communication skills, enhanced tolerance, and improved critical thinking abilities.