Formation of general cultural literacy of future elementary school teachers

Abstract

In modern conditions it becomes necessary to strengthen the role of culture education, as there arises a new ideal of human in culture, who possesses the general cultural competence, which determines its vitality, ability to navigate in different areas of social and professional life, harmonizes inner world and its relationship with society. The concept of New Ukrainian School provides knowledge of basic competences, which every individual needs for personal realization, inner development, being active citizen, for social inclusion and future employment. Due to these competences students are able to provide personal realization and achieve success throughout life. One of the ten basic competencies is knowledge and self-expressions in culture – the ability to understand art, to form own artistic tastes, independently express ideas, experience and feelings through different forms of art. Building awareness and self-expression in the sphere of culture is realized through mastering the general cultural competences by future teachers. General cultural competences are defined as a student’s ability to analyze and evaluate the achievements of representatives of national and worldwide culture; freely orient in the cultural and spiritual context of modern society, apply methods of self-education focused on general human values. The developed general cultural competence indicates that a person has certain moral and personal qualities, priorities and opinions that help her/him to properly define the role of culture, orient in pieces of cultural heritage, coordinate own behavior with generally accepted moral norms and both national and accepted foreign cultural values. Therefore, the preparation of future teachers of primary school aims not only on gaining perfect knowledge in academic subjects, but also on acquiring valuable skills of general cultural awareness and other competences formation by means of academic disciplines.