Abstract:

The interconnection of various educational processes and thinking patterns is undisputed. Clear understanding of the ultimate goal determines the ways and means of channeling students’ and teachers’ energy and effort in the right direction. The pressing demand on understanding cultural and ethnic differences has partly been ignored in Russia but for some regions characteristic of diverse religious and national aspects. The English chair of Moscow State Institute of International Relations aims at raising cultural and ethnic awareness by implementing sophisticated teaching ways and methods in the studying process. This article describes the results of the survey carried out among the students of the Department of International Journalism, which offers educational programs in Sociology, Public Relations and International Journalism proper. The results of the research establish a positive shift in the perception of hetero-images, i.e. images of foreign peoples and their representatives, and in the image of the self, or auto-image. The findings show that the students are by and large devoid of stereotypical and hostile attitudes towards “the other”, and the image of the self is saved from the destructive criticism that used to permeate the Russian society. This attitudinal change can be explained by the slight modification of the curriculum of English-language classes which now comprises the elaboration of such topics as cultural differences and similarities, the issues of discrimination, gender, ethnic minorities and identity, ethics within the major subjects the students study in English. However, the statistics demonstrate the vestiges of intolerance towards some Russian ethnic minorities as well as some disparate ethnic groups abroad. Far from being demonstrative and worrying these figures are nonetheless essential in terms of what should be done more to increase the sensitivity in relation to ethnic issues. Thus, the paper suggests project work with students applying a comprehensive set of methods including links with psychology, literature, language and art.

Keywords:

Teaching diversity, auto-image, hetero-image, stereotype, multicultural literature, identity, thinking patterns.