The integrative approach in foreign language teaching: theoretical and methodological substantiation

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present a theoretical substantiation of the integrative approach in foreign language teaching through its systematic interdisciplinary analysis. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the synthesis of a new theoretical construct, which allows for viewing the integrative approach as a holistic interdisciplinary methodology; designing foreign language teaching based on a unified theoretical platform; and transitioning from the empirical application of integration to its scientifically grounded modeling. In the article, the authors conducted an analytical study and structured the principles and concepts underlying the integrative approach in education, drawing from scientific fields such as philosophy (systemic nature, interdisciplinarity, the ideas of A. von Humboldt and G. W. F. Hegel), psychology and pedagogy (system-activity and personal-activity approaches, theories of developmental and contextual learning, the concept of a holistic educational process), and linguodidactics (linguistic area studies, communicative approach). As a result of the study, it was determined that the integrative approach serves as a methodological basis for overcoming disciplinary fragmentation and fostering the development of complex communicative competence in learners. It was established that its theoretical foundation comprises three interconnected blocks: the philosophical-methodological block (justifying the necessity of an integrative approach in teaching), the psychological-pedagogical block (revealing integrativity as a condition for the development of thinking and personality), and the linguodidactic block (specifying the ways of implementing the integrative approach in teaching). It is proven that the practical implementation of the integrative approach, structured across four levels, ensures a transition from language study as an end in itself to its use as a tool for cognition, thinking, and professional activity, thus making this approach an effective strategy for building modern, personality-developing foreign language education.

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About this article

Publication history

• Received: December 11, 2025.
• Published: December 26, 2025.

Keywords

• интегративность в образовании
• интегративный подход
• обучение иностранным языкам
• методологическая основа образования
• теоретические основы интегративности
• integrativity in education
• integrative approach
• foreign language teaching
• methodological basis of education
• theoretical foundations of integrativity

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