Developing Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students Competence

We live in a constantly changing global and mobile world, which can be defined as a ¿melting pot¿ of different cultures. Communicating with foreigners is inevitable, ranging from large international organizations to work teams or small groups in the academy classrooms with representatives of diverse cultural backgrounds. So it is becoming important to create an understanding and awareness of cultural values and intercultural communication competence. Intercultural communication competence requires not only to recognize and appreciate cultural differences, but also to develop effective interaction skills. The college classroom is a prime unit enabling instructors to teach students this important skill relevant in both professional and personal development.Development of intercultural competence includes the following aspects: empathy; ability to distance themselves from their position (change of perspective), recognition of cultural diversity, tolerance; cultural identity, ethnic identity.To reach the goal of communicating with linguistically and culturally diverse people the students should obtain intercultural communication competence.