APPROACHES TO TEACHING SOCIOCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN BASIC SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASSES

Abstract

           Abstract. The development of sociocultural competence (SCC) is an essential aspect of English language teaching in basic school, as it supports learners’ ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in diverse cultural contexts. However, many teachers experience difficulties in integrating sociocultural elements into regular English lessons due to limited methodological guidance. This article analyzes approaches to teaching sociocultural competence in basic school English classes. The research is based on a survey of 5th- and 6th-grade English teachers, an experimental stage focused on explicit instruction of sociocultural content, and the implementation of interactive teaching methods such as role-play, project work, and multimedia resources. The findings demonstrate that a systematic combination of explicit SCC instruction and interactive methods leads to increased pupils’ cultural awareness, learning motivation, and communicative performance. In addition, the study reveals positive changes in teachers’ attitudes and confidence toward teaching sociocultural aspects of the English language. The results confirm the effectiveness of structured and learner-centered approaches to developing sociocultural competence in basic school EFL instruction.