THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL AWARENESS AND INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN MODERN LANGUAGE EDUCATION: STRATEGIES, CHALLENGES, AND PERSPECTIVES

This article examines the importance of cultural awareness in the process of language education. It explores how language learning is deeply interconnected with cultural knowledge, communication styles, and intercultural competence. The article analyzes both theoretical perspectives and practical classroom strategies to integrate cultural content into language education. The findings emphasize that cultural awareness not only improves linguistic proficiency but also fosters tolerance, empathy, and global citizenship.