Abstract

Abstract. The business environment in Latvia has become more dynamic and wider thus requiring from the young specialists besides their professional competences also knowledge not only in business communication, but also in cross-cultural communication, as these competences play an important role in international cooperation. This, in turn, determines the necessity for foreign language competences. At the Faculty of Engineering of the Latvia University of Agriculture, foreign languages are taught only in the first year. The number of sessions is too small to ensure successful development of the aforementioned competences. The ways are being searched for to help promote the competences in extra-curriculum activities and through Erasmus mobile exchange programs. The article gives an insight in the theory of communication and cross-cultural communication describing the role of foreign languages in these processes, as well as the influence of cultural differences and the ways to overcome difficulties, risk factors and barriers to make the process of cross-cultural communication fruitful. An enquiry was carried out among the students on the necessity of foreign language and cross-cultural communication skills for them to be able to participate in Erasmus programs and integrate in the labour market after graduation. Also the graduates -future employers of the students were interviewed to get their opinion on the competences their employees need for hiring them in their work places. Keywords: activities, foreign language, competences, development. Introduction Considering the situation in the Latvian and European business conditions today, it is necessary to find ways of preparing the future engineers being able to integrate successfully in the labour market after graduation from the university. Our previous research shows that besides special professional competences the future engineers need to have other general skills including foreign language and cross-cultural communication skills. The sessions of foreign languages have a great potential to ensure the development of the mentioned skills and competences. Nevertheless, foreign languages at the Faculty of the Engineering of the Latvia University of Agriculture are taught only in the first year (two sessions per week) in the specialities of agricultural engineering, autotransport, technical expert, machine manufacturing and design, and also in the second year in the speciality of agricultural energetics. This number of sessions is too small, and the fact must be considered that the main task of these sessions is to teach the students professional English, meaning teaching of special terminology. A task for the teachers of foreign language arises to use the allowed time more efficiently for teaching the special professional language and at the same time to find a possibility to include the elements of cross-cultural communication. Nevertheless, it is a very difficult task, as the groups of students are not homogeneous; their knowledge of foreign languages may differ greatly within the group. Therefore, the teachers are trying to organise extra-curriculum activities for the students in which they could master not only foreign language skills (mainly conversational language) but also develop crosscultural competences. The students are also promoted to participate in Erasmus exchange programs by the teachers of foreign languages as studying in these programs is a good way to develop the mentioned skills.