LITERARY TEXTS AS EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN ECONOMICS STUDENTS

Abstract

This article examines the pedagogical, linguistic, and cultural value of integrating literary texts into the process of teaching English to economics students. Drawing on a communicative and task-based methodology, the study explores how authentic literary materials enhance vocabulary development, cultural awareness, and contextual grammar acquisition while simultaneously strengthening higherorder thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and critical evaluation. The research demonstrates that literary texts serve as powerful tools that foster emotional engagement, support inferential reasoning, and promote a holistic understanding of socio-cultural concepts reflected through language. In addition, the study highlights how literary excerpts with economic themes enrich ESP (English for Specific Purposes) instruction by providing meaningful contexts for professional terminology and conceptual learning. The findings confirm that literature not only improves linguistic proficiency but also contributes to students’ cognitive growth, communicative confidence, and academic readiness. Ultimately, literary texts emerge as effective, multifaceted resources for forming linguistically capable, culturally aware, and critically minded learners in higher education settings.