The influence of the value-cultural matrix on the interpretation of the international holiday by foreign students

The article examines the latent background foundations for understanding and categorizing information, as well as their consideration in the practice of teaching a foreign language. Foreign students’ perception of information about a specific fragment of reality and a verbal-behavioral response to it are conditioned by nationally specific cultural frames, which are the interpretive basis for the perceived material. The concept of a value-cultural matrix is a synthetic construct that allows one to generalize mental schemes, social phenomena and behavioral models that are predominantly non-reflective. The frame organization of knowledge within the framework of value-oriented matrices is generally understood as a certain semantic framework reflecting the stereotypical nature of human thinking within a sociocultural community. The peculiarities of by a foreign audience’s understanding the information about a specific fragment of reality and verbal-behavioral response to it are considered on the example of the discussion of the 8 March holiday by Russian Studies students at the University of Gdansk. In order to solve the research problems (comparing the frame of the international holiday in Polish and Russian national discourses, describing the cultural dominants that form them), a narrative methodology is used, which involves a thorough reconstruction of cultural frames based on narration, as well as methods of lexical-semantic, historical-cultural and static analysis. The empirical material was works by two Russian philology groups of students majoring in teaching - their speculation and working cards dedicated to 8 March, as well as the students’ notes on the official website of the Institute on the day of the holiday. The analysis of the collected material shows that the value-cultural matrix is a complex, multi-level system with its own nationally specific content, which for a foreign learner can be unpredictable and conflict-prone. The considered case revealed a different attitude to the holiday in Poland and Russia, its different value, semantic and processual experience. The most significant factors that determine the differing configuration of the value-cultural matrices of interpreting the holiday of 8 March in Russia and Poland are described: the history and nature of the holiday, its atmosphere, associations of representatives of the linguacultural community with this day, the social and legal aspect of correlates with the holiday, as well as dominant characteristics of the national and gender mentality. In connection with the above, educational material in a foreign language may contain some conflict-prone elements due to the indicated discrepancy in the frames. The teacher’s task is to transpose the keys to an adequate perception and understanding of a foreign cultural frame, as well as to ensure mutual understanding based on mutual respect and awareness of the value meanings of a different linguistic culture. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

Keywords

Authors

References