Nonverbal communication competence in foreign language education of Kazakhstani learners: challenges and strategies

Abstract

Today in foreign language classes most attention is given to verbal aspects and least importance is paid to teaching nonverbal aspects of intercultural communication. The necessity of intercultural communication competence (ICC) formation in foreign language education and lack of its main component – nonverbal communication sub-competence is the focus of this paper. The aim of this study is to answer the following research questions: What knowledge of nonverbal communication helps foreign language learners to communicate on an intercultural level? How is nonverbal communication knowledge embedded into the content of foreign language education? What learning environment in the higher institutions will enhance the students’ nonverbal communication competence? The research was conducted with freshmen and sophomore students of linguistic department: “Translation studies” at the end of the academic year in order to reveal what they had learned and what were the main sources of learning nonverbal communication. Data were collected through literature review as well as document analysis of the curriculum, the main course books on teaching EL used in this specialty and questionnaires given to students.