EN
The purpose of this article is to discuss factors that determine interpersonal communication (discourse) during a foreign language lesson. The considerations are based on conclusions from participant observation carried out by the author at an intercultural German language course dedicated to a group of seniors. The diversification of students, based not only on their national, ethnic or cultural origin, but also on a varied scope of their knowledge, and linguistic and cultural experiences, on different intellectual potential and diversified life needs and attitudes, makes it sometimes difficult to maintain control over the directions of communication between students and a teacher. Numerous pieces of evidence for an increasing need to develop foreign-language and intercultural competences among the oldest generations of Europeans, including Poles, prove the current character of the topic and its signifi cant nature from the perspective of the effectiveness of foreign language teaching/learning. The typology described in the article assumes the universal capacity simultaneously. It can so be used for the purposes of the linguistic education in other age groups.