Педагогические  науки /5. Современные методы преподавания

 

Студентка, Бурганова А.Р.

Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет, Россия

Студент, Сериков Р.И.

Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет, Россия

К.п.н. Баранова А.Р.

Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет, Россия

 

Professional communication formation at students of technical specialities on the basis of CLIL

 

Summary: Relevance of the issue is the need of the development of a new educational technology for teaching subjects by means of a foreign language. The purpose of the article is a detailed study of the methodology of CLIL. The leading approach to the study is analyzing literature and the results of this practice in foreign educational institutions, as well as predicting the possibilities of this technology for Russian students. The results showed, such teaching can’t completely replace studying a subject in native language, but it can substantially supplement it. The article may be useful for students and teachers of all educational institutions.

Keywords: student, teaching, education, learning, language, course, practice, CLIL, subject-language integrated learning, professionally-oriented education, method.

 

In modern society the issues of socialization of a modern man in interethnic and intercultural space become of paramount importance. Meanwhile proficiency in foreign language is considered as one of the tools of development of professional skills and possibilities [4]. In this regard new educational technologies appear in teaching foreign languages. One of such technologies is the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) subject-language integrated learning.

During the research of the results of the Russian Education Support Project on Specialist English (RESPONSE) conducted by the British Council and Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in 2002, some disadvantages in teaching English for Specific Purposes at Russian universities were revealed. The identified disadvantages led to the need to search new technology of teaching foreign languages to students of technical specialties. Analysis of foreign literature showed that such method exists. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) subject-language integrated learning is widely used at universities in Europe and the United States of America. However, it has to be adapted to Russian conditions.

CLIL is a method in which either a number of subjects at university are taught in a foreign language, or a teacher of a foreign language uses interdisciplinary topics in a foreign language lesson. A foreign language in this case is not only a means of communication, but also is a tool of cognitive activity, and teaching in native and foreign languages represents a single process [1, P.16].

The term “Content and Language Integrated Learning” was first used by D. Marsh in 1994. According to D. Marsh, the CLIL is applied of when subjects or certain themes within these subjects are taught in a foreign language. This pursues two goals: the study of the content of this subject and simultaneous study of a foreign language [2, P.6].

The question of the need to adopt integrated subject-language learning within the professionally-oriented education is investigated by many authors. In particular, D. Marsh, B. Marsland and K. Stenberg, as well as D. Wolff give six reasons why it is necessary to use CLIL in the academic and professional environment (in higher and vocational education):

1.       Mastering practical knowledge and skills;

2.       Development of interpersonal skills;

3.       Implementation of intercultural communication;

4.       Mastering  education of high quality in a certain field;

5.       Competitiveness in the labor-market;

6.       The opportunity to look at the academic subject from various points of view.

   It is important to note that the CLIL methodology has four main components (4 “C” methodology of the CLIL):

1.       Content. It is necessary to stimulate the process of mastering knowledge and development of skills on the subject.

2.       Communication. It is necessary to teach students to use the means of a foreign language to gain knowledge of the subject.

3.       Cognition. It is necessary to develop the intellectual abilities of students to understand the language and the subject.

4.       Culture. Understanding the features of different cultures will help students to socialize more effectively in today’s multicultural world, to understand better their own culture and stimulate its preservation and evolution.

As for the development of the CLIL in Russia, it should be noted, that currently its implementation is episodic and if it is implemented, it happens partially, within separate educational institutions. At the level of a school curriculum, this method is presented with particular integrated lessons (History – English, Geography – English, etc.).

For example, several years ago at the Department of Physics at St. Petersburg State University there was an attempt to introduce a new program for students “Physics in English”. It proposed to teach Physics in English. Teachers at the same time would not be only university professors, but also their German colleagues. Unfortunately, this attempt failed because the students were not ready to receive information, to record lectures and respond in English, despite the fact that they demonstrated deep knowledge of the subject in their native language [3].

Now we, students of the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Information Technologies, want to provide a visual-theoretical example of positive consequences of implementing this technology in teaching our specialty. Our course of study includes such a subject as programming. English for a programmer is a native language of this profession. It is simply impossible to do something without it today. When teaching programming in English with technical terms and applying them immediately in practice, we get such advantages as:  

1.       Understanding of terminology. Most programming languages are based on keywords in English.

2.       Reading technical documentation. Almost all background materials, newest books and articles in IT are published in English.

3.       Visiting online courses and webinars. Currently a sphere of free educational courses by masters of programming is developed on the Internet, but all of them are conducted in English.  

4.       Search for solutions in the World Wide Web. Students periodically face with complex tasks and some problems in their work, the solution of which can be found in the English-speaking part of the Internet.

5.       The chance to get a job abroad. It’s no secret that almost all huge IT companies are in the USA. Such companies constantly require competent specialists, but in order to communicate with colleagues and management, you need to know English.

Of course, such teaching can’t completely replace the study of a subject in native language, but it can substantially supplement it. In today’s dynamically developing society, there are serious processes of modernization of education that entails a need for changes in the requirements for the qualification of teachers [5, P.115]. This fact requires an updated approach to teachers’ development. Teaching children to the principle of “learn to learn”, every teacher should undoubtedly follow it himself. Thus, introduction of the professional standard of a teacher should contribute to the formation and improvement of various general and professional competences of teachers, required at this stage of Russian education. The effectiveness of the method is ensured by organizing lessons in modern forms of interaction between a teacher and students, using innovative educational technologies.

 

References

1.  Burganova A.R., Baranova A.R. Linguo-stylistic specificity of innovative forms of headlines on the Internet // Information technologies in the research space of difference-structured languages: a collection of articles of I International Internet Conference of young scientists (December 5, 2016). Kazan: Publishing house of Kazan university, 2017. – Pp. 15-17

2.  Murzina A.R., Murzina E.R., Baranova A.R. Impact of computer technologies on language development // Information technologies in the research space of difference-structured languages: a collection of articles of I International Internet Conference of young scientists (December 5, 2016). Kazan: Publishing house of Kazan university, 2017. Pp. 5-7.

3.  Coyle, D. (1999) Theory and planning for effective classrooms: supporting students in content and language integrated learning contexts in Masih, J. (ed) Learning through a Foreign Language, London: CILT.

4. Yeremeyeva, G., & Baranova, A. (2017). To the question of formation of sociocultural knowledge when training in the foreign language. Bulletin of Science and Practice. Electronic Journal, no.1 (14), 183–187. (In Russian). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.244276.

5. Yeremeyeva, G.R., Baranova, A.R., Khakimzyanova, D.F. Analysis of android educational mobile apps// Success of modern science and education. Volume 1, No.2. Belgorod, 2017. Pp. 113-119.