Keyword: «critical thinking.»

The article examines the phenomenon of the personal success cult in contemporary society, its impact on value system formation and psychological consequences for individuals. It analyses the mechanisms of promoting the idea of success through mass media, social networks, self‑development industry and corporate culture. Special attention is given to psychological manipulation techniques based on cognitive biases (confirmation bias, survivorship bias) and emotional impact (guilt, shame). The negative consequences of blind adherence to the success cult are described, including emotional burnout, financial losses, social isolation and distortion of life values. The concluding section offers strategies for protection against manipulations: developing critical thinking, mindfulness, forming healthy habits and realistic goals. The conclusion states that while the success cult can serve as a growth stimulus, its manipulative use poses serious risks to psychological well‑being.

The article examines the integration of mathematical problems with foreign language content as an effective means of developing students’ functional literacy from a linguodidactic perspective. The author analyzes the relationship between language and mathematical competencies, substantiating the need for an interdisciplinary approach in the context of globalization and a multilingual educational environment. Special attention is paid to the “Spotlight” teaching and learning kit, as well as to the typology and functions of mathematical exercises in a foreign language, which contribute to the development of critical thinking, reading literacy, and financial literacy. The paper offers pedagogical recommendations for implementing integrated learning and discusses the prospects of using digital technologies to individualize the educational process.

The article addresses the development of a methodology for fostering foreign language sociocultural competence and critical thinking in high school students through authentic American rap texts. This paper presents the results of a diagnostic survey conducted among 60 students during the initial phase of the study. The research aims to provide a theoretical justification, develop, and test a methodological framework designed to integrate the development of the aforementioned competences. The survey was intended to identify students’ baseline interests, their attitudes toward the cultural component of language learning, their self-assessment of analytical skills with respect to authentic texts, and their readiness to engage with hip-hop materials. The obtained data indicate that adolescents demonstrate a high level of interest in the cultural aspects of language and recognize the potential of contemporary music for language learning; however, they lack targeted practice in in-depth critical text analysis. These findings provide empirical justification for the implementation of the proposed methodological framework.