For the first time, the International thematic discussion “Culture is the fifth skill" by Barry Tomalin on the topic of intercultural communication and cultural characteristics of countries and peoples of the world took place at the Francisk Skorina Gomel State University. 11 teams of language specialties of Belarusian and Russian universities took part in the event in the format of a videoconference. The organizer and inspirer of the discussion was the Department of Intercultural Communications and International Tourism of Gomel University.
The solemn ceremony of welcoming universities was opened by
A.V. Kruk, the first vice-rector of the Francisk Skorina Gomel State University. A.V. Kruk stressed the importance of the topic of discussion and the importance of international educational cooperation of universities. Then, in the welcoming ceremony, each team presented its university. All the participants tried to do it brightly and creatively. The 2nd year students of the specialty " Translation Studies" of the I. Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University prepared a greeting to the participants with a national flavor in national costumes.
After the welcoming ceremony, in the order of the draw held in advance in preparation for the discussion, th
e teams presented in English the characteristic features of one of the world cultures using a presentation. The student presentations reflected the peculiarities of mentality, value orientations, national-specific features of verbal and nonverbal behavior, national etiquette, traditions and customs. And it was done really masterfully, using powerful intellectual and creative potential, modern technical capabilities of visual presentation of 
the material, musical accompaniment, in excellent and fluent English! The cultures of the peoples of Japan, South Korea, Russia, Norway, Great Britain, Israel, Thailand, Australia and China were considered. The 2nd year students of the specialty "Linguistic support of intercultural communications (international tourism)" prepared a speech about the culture of Japan.
After e
ach presentation, in accordance with the format of the event, 2 speakers' questions were supposed to be asked to th
e participants of the discussion on the foreign language culture being presented. Representatives of the teams actively supported the interactive mode with their answers and comments. The teams took an especially active part in the discussion:
- Belarusian State University of Economics (RB)
- Perm State University (RF)
- Francisk Skorina Gomel State University (RB)
- Tomsk State Pedagogical University (RF)
- I. Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University (RF)
- Orenburg State University (RF)
The 1st degree diploma was awarded to a team of the 3rd year students of the specialty "Linguistics" of Perm State University (Russian Federation), the topic of the presentation is "Culture of Great Britain".
The holders of the 2nd degree diplomas were: a team of the 2nd year students of the specialty "Translation and Translation Studies" of Perm State University (Russian Federation), the topic of the speech "Israel. Jewish Culture"; a team of the 2nd-year students of the specialty "Translation and Translation Studies" of the I. Yakovlev Chuvash State Pedagogical University (Russian Federation), the topic of the presentation "Chinese culture".
The diploma of the 3rd degree was won by a team of the 4th-year students of the specialty "Economics and Management of the tourism industry" of the Belarusian State University of Economics (Republic of Belarus), the theme of the presentation is "Culture of the Kurds".
All participants of the first International thematic discussion were awarded certificates and commendations, the best performances of the teams were awarded diplomas.
We express our sincere gratitude to all the teams of partner universities for their interest, support of the event, responsible approach, efforts, high quality of training and creative potential!
We wish you success and hope for further fruitful cooperation!
POCHINOK TATIANA
Head of the Department of Intercultural Communications
http://bseu.by/russian/news/202112222.htm
https://cheboksari.bezformata.com/listnews/fifth-skill-barry-tomalin/100867334/
https://pspu.ru/press-centr/news?id=22965
https://pstu.ru/news/2021/12/24/12154/
