Principles Of Developing Linguistic Competence In University Students

Abstract

The present thesis examines the fundamental principles of developing linguistic competence in university students learning English as a foreign language. Linguistic competence is interpreted as an integrated system of phonological, lexical, grammatical, orthographic, semantic, and discourse knowledge that enables learners to understand and produce accurate language forms. The study focuses on the principles of systematicity, communicative orientation, contextualization, consciousness, continuity, differentiation, integration, and practical applicability. The findings show that the effective development of linguistic competence requires a balanced combination of language knowledge and communicative practice. Particular attention is paid to the organization of instructional materials, the sequence of linguistic content, the use of authentic contexts, and the role of formative assessment. The thesis concludes that linguistic competence develops successfully when language units are taught not as isolated elements but as interconnected means of expressing meaning in real communicative situations.