CULTURAL ISSUES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AT TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.8516Keywords:
Intercultural Communication, Internationalization of Education, International Academic Mobility, International Master’s ProgramAbstract
The study addresses the cultural challenges of teaching foreign languages in international master’s programs at technical universities, focusing on the joint program between the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The objective is to identify the cultural and linguistic difficulties encountered by Russian students studying in China within a double degree framework. The research employed content analysis and a systematic structural approach to evaluate the data collected through surveys and interviews with 30 master’s students who completed a one-year study in China. The results showed that students initially faced significant linguistic barriers, including comprehension difficulties due to accent differences and insufficient English proficiency. Cultural and educational challenges were also observed, such as adapting to new customs and academic norms. However, by the end of the academic year, these difficulties were largely mitigated through immersion and institutional support. The conclusions emphasize the importance of culturally enriched language curricula incorporating linguistic and intercultural components. Custom teaching materials and communicative methods are essential to students’ academic and cultural adaptation. Ultimately, international programs enhance professional competencies and foster mutual understanding and global collaboration, highlighting the strategic value of educational internationalization.
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