Introduction of Intercultural Communication Studies into the Curriculum of Pedagogical University

The article looks into the problem of introducing intercultural communication studies into the curriculum of the future teachers' professional training. The relevance of the research is proved by the strong need to prepare today's youth for reaching mutual understanding and avoiding barriers in communication. The purpose of the research is to design the course of intercultural communication studies for introducing into the curriculum of future primary school teachers' training, based on the theoretical analysis of the content and structure of intercultural communication competence and the pedagogical university students' level of the development of intercultural communication. The methods which are applied in the research are theoretical methods for analysing the literature, modelling for substantiating the course content, and empirical methods for assessing the level of the development of the students' intercultural communication competence. The designed course covers the main topics, aimed at gaining cultural knowledge and developing intercultural skills, behaviour abilities, and attitude. The methods of course construction are defined. Four methodological approaches to intercultural communication studies are substantiated (competency-based approach, inductive approach, social scientific approach, interpretive approach). The effectiveness of the course is proved through measuring the level of language skills, assessed by Standardised test Cambridge English First, and behaviour abilities, assessed some direct and indirect methods.