Challenges and best practices in foreign languages at tertiary level

COMMUNICATION has become a key mantra of our times. Without it there is no chance for cooperation or at least for mutual understanding of different worldviews, lifestyles and values. Whether we talk about communication within a family, a society or between nations, the necessity to learn how to express appropriately one’s own attitudes and show respect for the attitudes of others is a crucial competence associated with soft skills. Communication across cultures/nations is further complicated with the necessity to command with foreign languages accompanied by a decent cultural literacy. Though many countries foster foreign language education from young age still tertiary level education seems to carry the weight of responsibility for preparing the young generation for real life in a globalized world where coping in a variety of private and/or professional environment is almost impossible without language and intercultural competence.