Features of pragmatic competence development while teaching a foreign language to university students

The key objective of the conducted research is to develop methodology of building pragmatic competence while teaching English language to students of Saint Petersburg State Chemical Pharmaceutical University (SPCPU). In order to use a language fluently, learners have to study not only forms and meanings in it. Practical experience indicates that the development of pragmatic competence is one of the main aims of teaching a second language. However, only few English course books include this component. The research concentrates on the formation and enhancement of pragmatic competence which includes not only knowledge of the language but also cultural knowledge. Various methods to boost pragmatic competence are given. The results of research with an experimental design revealed that a deliberate focus on pragmatics during English classes was conducive to enhancement of pragmatic competence.