The Concept of Intercultural Competence and the Fulbright Exchange as a Model of Intercultural Communication

The focus in the suggested research is on the role of intercultural communication in English language education and the program of English teacher assistant (ETA), which is part of the international Fulbright educational exchange in Bulgaria, for the enhancement of intercultural competence. It will present not only the context of English language acquisition in Bulgaria, but also the development of multicultural awareness and tolerance in the language classroom. The new concepts of teaching intercultural communication and competence promote the idea that they are not free from language learning and language-in-culture. The main goal of the ETA program is to improve the quality of English language teaching and learning in Bulgaria by assigning native speakers with adequate academic credentials to (English) language high schools all over the country and especially in underdeveloped regions. This model has real importance as it represents training by native speaker who functions as an intercultural moderator.The main goals of the research are:?To promote the Fulbright program ?To strengthen educational advising.?To promote cultural sensitivity among Americans and Bulgarians.English language skills and intercultural communication should better be taught by native speakers. It is not only because they are a priceless tool and a natural way for learning English, but meanwhile they teach intercultural communication and intercultural competence. Also they use interactive and productive methods of teaching and presenting American and British culture and conversational English. As a part of the Fulbright program ETA gives the students, mentor teachers, teacher stuff, and the local community the possibility to stay in touch with English and American language and culture, thus imperceptibly enhancing intercultural competence.