L.A. Zaika

State Institution of Higher Education “National Mining University, Dnipropetrovsk

Key Competences at the English Lessons

Each student faces a lot of requirements at the modern stage of society’s development. To adapt rapidly in society and be competitive, it is necessary to be a competent personality in different spheres. Development of key competences, such as poly-cultural competence, readiness for conscious and responsible choice, technological, informative, social, communicative competences, and readiness for self-study, is necessary condition for personality’s development in the modern world.

The results of a lot of research prove that professional success in major kinds of activities is determined by the level of emotional intelligence. Those people having high level of emotional intelligence are able to use their abilities more effectively. Coordinated interaction of emotions and intelligence ensures an individual’s success in the most number of life spheres and activities.

Self-awareness is the main component of emotional intelligence. An individual with a high level of self-awareness knows his own strengths and weaknesses and can be aware of his own emotions, needs and motives. Self-control is a consequence of self-awareness. Self-c0ntrol gives people an opportunity to control themselves, be able to cope with their own emotions and direct them into a useful channel. Empathy is the ability to put oneself on the other’s place, to consider feelings and emotions of other people in the process of decision making. All mankind would disappear if people could not agree on problem issues and consider both their own and others’ interests. All people have the right for peaceful life, that’s why everyone must be patient while communicating other persons, have to know religious culture and other peculiarities of different nations for productive cooperation.

A range of exercises offered for development of poly-cultural competence.

Exercise “Racial differences”.

A group of students is joined into two teams and each group gets the following task for discussion:” Think and explain why”. The first team has to discuss the issue: “Why are the Negroes almost always tall, with curly hair and black skin?” The second team has to discuss the issue:” Why are the Yakuts short, with narrow eyes and pale skin?” The tasks are discussed in the teams and the answers are presented in the class.

The proposed answers: 1.The high stature helps to cool oneself in the hot climate better, and curly hair protects the head from overheating. The same function is fulfilled by the dark skin, which protects the body and inner organs from overheating.

2. The short stature saves the warm in the cold climate; the pale skin almost doesn’t burn in the sun because the length of the light day in the North is very short; and narrow eyes protect the retina of the eye from the sun rays, which are reflected from snow and blind the eyes.

Conclusions to be drawn: After the answers the teams draw the conclusions: racial differences exist because of ecological peculiarities of the place of living.

Exercise “Is religion a kindness or evil, or a reason for the war?”

The whole group of the students gets the following task: “Find as many as possible common and different features in such world religions as Muslims and Christianity.” The answers are written on the blackboard. Each student has to express his own opinion on the problem and after that the following issues are offered for discussion: Are the religions really so different? *What is the purpose of almost each religion? *Are the religious wars justified? * Is it possible to find the common language to solve contradictions? *Imagine a conflict situation at the background of religion and propose a solution.

Exercise “The rules of effective communication”

The students are joined into the groups of 4 persons and elaborate “The rules of effective communication” using information got at the lesson. The students write down their own “Rules” on the blackboard.

The “Rules” could be the following ones: *Avoid negative estimations of an interlocutor’s personality. *Don’t be aggressive and categorical. *Don’t impose your own estimations and thoughts on an interlocutor. *Try to take a partner’s aspect. *Be well-disposed in attitude to an interlocutor. *Start your talk with the easy theme and set a well-disposed contact.*Follow the logic. *Make pauses.*Consider the fact that your interlocutor is not your rival, but a partner.

Exercise “Contacts and conflicts”

Students are joined into groups of 4 persons and get the following task:” Recall the cases, when your behavior in conflict situation resulted in unpleasant consequences – the break of relationships with your friends and problems with the competent bodies etc. After that the students are given the following issues to discuss: What would you do, if it was possible to turn the time back? *What did you learn from that situation?

Exercise “The rules of behavior in conflict situation”

Students are joined into groups of 4 persons, have to elaborate “The rules of behavior in conflict situation” and write down them on the blackboard.

The “Rules” could be the following ones: *If there is a conflict situation, discuss only the subject of the conflict situation, not a contradiction. *Each individual personality can have one’s own opinion. Respect a partner’s opinion. *A smile and well-disposition are the best assistants to solve the disputable issue. *The anger, malice and cry spoil you. *Show the feeling of humor, because a good and proper joke can relax atmosphere and help solve even the tense issues.

Exercise “Say”.

All students are proposed to say what the corresponding nation has done for the whole world. It is necessary to pay attention only to the positive features. For example, a student is proposed to make a speech on behalf of the Chinese and he says:” The Chinese have presented the world with the silk, and the silk is as strong as steel is, and as light as a fluff is, and as beautiful as the stars are.” All the students in turn speak on behalf of the certain nation. One of the students draws a conclusion:” All nations have their own peculiar differences, but, nevertheless, each nation brings some use for the whole world. The best scientists of the nationalities give knowledge for every person, not only for their own people. Thus, all nationalities living on the Earth are important, and can achieve the best results in cooperation.

A range of exercises offered to develop readiness to make conscious and responsible choice.

It is very good when you have friends, close people, who can help with the advice, but it is bad when other people make decisions, because a person only himself can make the right choice for himself, only independently a person can take into consideration all personal interests, moral principles, external factors, and personal features of character. That’s why it is important to make choice independently, and have personal responsibility for the choice. That’s why it is necessary to be able to analyze personal features and to be ready for independent, conscious and responsible life.

Exercise “Autobiography” (self-analysis and reflection).

The main purpose of the task is – to feel the way the past has influenced the present day, and the way that influence results these days to feel free from it and stereotypes of behavior, which do not meet the requirements of the present interests. There we will be interested not only in the list of the external events, but the internal history of our lifetime, research of the conditions, events and people that influenced the lifetime and the way interaction with them happened. It is worth considering the essential external events of the lifetime in autobiography – time and place of birth, nationality, social and economic conditions of your family, common social conditions of life, natural conditions of the surrounding – and to show the influence of all those factors on your development, to explain the way the external conditions of your life have influenced you. You can draw your biography in chronological order or from the moment in your life which attracts you most of all, or combine those two approaches. Describing your lifetime try to be as sincere as possible trying to show the reasons of your weaknesses and to achieve the most objective and honest position in the view at your life. Thus you will be able to realize your life better and make more constructive steps in future.

You have to consider the following questions: What kind of a person were you in different periods of your life? *How have you changed since that time? *Have you perceived yourself the same way as the surrounding people? *What masks did you wear? *How did you distort your sincere nature to be perceived by the surrounding people to protect yourself from them? *Describe some crises of development or changes in your attitude to the life or in the level of consciousness. *What stereotypes do you consider in your life? *Are there any conflicts which repeated in different situations? *What are the results of your lifetime experience?

Then the students are offered to read their autobiographies and discuss the question:” Was it difficult to tell about your lifetime?”

Exercise “My visiting card” (awareness of one’s own personal values)

Visiting card is a traditional carrier of the contact information about a person or organization. It exists to continue the contacts, people exchange the visiting cards which have got all necessary information about a person, but all those data do not show the person’s internal world, his thoughts and feelings.

The task is – in 5 minutes to turn the ordinary sheet of paper into the visiting card which could give the opportunity to get the necessary minimum of information about you (you are a student, your achievements) and then to present your visiting cards and discuss the question:” Did those visiting cards of other students help you see the other aspects of life you had not recalled?”

Exercise “Advertisement”.

The task for all the students is – to make the advertisement to present a student of the group to stress his best features. Each student will have got a card with the name of one of the students in the group and will have to describe the real positive qualities of the advertised student. The presentation has to take no more than one minute. The advertisement has to meet one more condition – the name of the advertised student must not be mentioned and all the other students have to guess the student presented in the advertisement.

Exercise “A dangerous journey”.

Each of the students is proposed to find a fellow-traveler from the present students for a dangerous journey and explain why he was chosen, what moral, physical or intelligence features he has got and the way he could help during that dangerous journey. Then the students have to discuss the following issues: Was it difficult to choose the fellow-traveler? How soon could you manage to be aware of the characteristic features of a person which will help during a dangerous journey? Did you understand your responsibility during formation of the team, because your life could depend on your choice?

Exercise “My world” (to help understand myself).

The task is – to draw the circle on the sheet of paper with the letter “I” in the center and the rays from the letter in different directions on which they have to write: My favorite occupation…, My favorite color…, My favorite animal…, My best friend…, My favorite game…, My favorite season…, My skills…, A person I am proud of…, I am sure I will be able… etc. And then to discuss the issues: What are we similar in? What are we different in?

Exercise “Telegram” (to form the skills of positive perception of each other).

The students get the forms of “telegrams” with the name of the addressee written in them and have to write the best words for him. Then the “telegrams” are read in turn.

Exercise “The magic arm” (to form more deep ideas about “Me”).

The task is – to draw one’s own arm on the sheet of paper and to write down one’s own good positive features on the fingers, and the things you would like to change – to write on the palm. You could paint the fingers into different colors. Then the palms are examined by the students and additional qualities of the author’s palm could be written between the fingers. After that the students are proposed to discuss the issue:” What new things have you found out about yourself?”

Exercise “The fair of qualities” (development of qualities of self-analysis, formation of adequate self-estimation).

The task is – to divide the sheet of paper into two columns “Sell” and “Buy”. In the column “Sell” the students have to write down all their demerits they would like to get rid of, and in the column “Buy” to write down all the merits they would like to get. Students propose each other to buy or sell some qualities. After that the following issues are proposed for discussion: *What did you manage to buy? * What did you manage to sell? *What was easier – to buy or to sell and why? * What features were asked to buy more often? * What features were not demanded and why?

Conclusions to be drawn: One must not be afraid to admit one’s own demerits because that is the display of courage and after that recognition a person becomes only more courageous.

Exercise “Self-presentation (to increase self-estimation, self-confidence, personal dignity, positive self-perception).

The task is – to name three things the one is good at. The other students ask additional questions and thus demonstrate their interest in getting information, help be discovered as well.

Exercise “Self-portrait” (to discover self-perception).

Each student is offered to write his own self-portrait, which has to consist of not less than ten features of character, interests, relationships with other people, peculiarities of the points of view etc. The teacher reads the self-portraits and the students have to guess the author of the self-portrait.

Exercise “Who am I? ” (to develop self-analysis, presentation of the members of the group to each other).

The task is – the students have to answer the question “Who am I” in the written form in 10 minutes. Each student presents his answer in turn.

Exercise “A real leader”.

Students are united into groups and during five minutes they tell each other about their own weaknesses and strengths; they have to decide if they have the leader qualities; they have to name three the most important features of character of the “real leader” and explain their choice. After that they are offered to discuss the following issue:” Was it difficult to discuss one’s own weaknesses and strengths?”

Exercise “The leader qualities” (to develop the ability to work in the team, skills of communication and tolerance).

The students are united into three groups. It is proposed to draw the leader symbolically, to generalize leader qualities, to choose the leader to present the results of the group’s work. After that it is proposed to discuss the following issue:” Was it difficult to present the group’s work and what was the feeling during presentation?”

Exercise “Charismatic leader” (to develop self-analysis and tolerance).

The notion “charismatic leader” is used in attitude to people who can impress the others and have such emotional abilities due to which the people are estimated as gifted with special features and able to influence the other people. A charismatic person can keep attention of the surrounding people for a long time and has success due to that.

The task for all the students is – to think over the issue if they have the features of the charismatic personality. The statements have to be grounded, for example “I am charismatic leader because…” Presenting the answers in front of the group it is necessary to prove the signs of charismatic person. The other students ask questions and consider the confidence and argumentations of presentation. After than the students are proposed to discuss the issue:” Was it difficult to present in front of the group and find the necessary arguments?”

Exercise ” Formula of a leader’s success” (to develop self-analysis and tolerance, the ability to work in a team).

The task is – in 10 minutes to develop the formula of a leader’s personal success. For that it is necessary to write 10 important statements after that all students develop general formula of a leader’s success. The task of everyone is to convince everybody that only his proposals correspond to the reality. After that the students are proposed to discuss the issue:” Were all students confident while presenting their statements? Did they consider the other students’ opinion?”

The proposed formula of a leader’s success: *Control the situation. People follow the one who knows where to go. * Trust your subordinates. The responsibility has to be divided equally. *Be concentrated and control yourself and demonstrate that in crisis situations. * Don’t be afraid of risk and admit your mistakes. *Be an expert. Everyone must be sure the leader is competent.*Stimulate different points of view and find simple solutions in difficult situations.* Do not forget about self-discipline and responsibility. *Humor can help in different situations.

Exercise “A leader’s motor” (to develop a creative approach, consciousness of future).

The students are proposed to determine their life credo with the help of one phrase which can be accompanied with the picture. After that it is proposed to discuss the question:” How is your credo related to your future life where you have to cope with difficulties and obstacles?”

Exercise “Planning of the future”.

The students are proposed to write the approximate plan of their future and consider three main spheres – family, profession, free time – and to mention the main achievements and events to take place in their future. It is necessary to set real purposes and forecast real events and the ways to achieve them. All those plans are read and discussed in the group.

Exercise “A choice”.

There is a road-sign in the picture with the inscriptions –If you go straight you will find a job; if you go to the right you will get education; If you go to the left you will get a family. You are a hero and have to decide where to go and why, and what it will give you in future.

After the choice the students are proposed to discuss the following questions: *Is it difficult to decide rather important questions very fast? * Did you want to think for a longer time? * Did you like anyone else to decide instead of you?

Conclusions to be drawn: The most important thing is to make decisions independently and never be afraid of responsibility, but the choice must be conscious.

A range of the exercises offered to develop technological competence.

Modern mankind lives in the era of technologies and information that’s why knowledge in that sphere is important. Understanding the process the technique works, the ability to make algorithms gives a person an opportunity not only to be the user of technological know-how, but understand the content of what is going on.

Exercise “Know-how”.

The students are united into two teams and get the same list of appliances and they have to write down as many spheres of their use as possible in practice in two minutes. The appliances can be combined or some parts can be used separately. The representatives of the teams present their inventions and inventions must not be repeated. The winner is the team who proposed more inventions.

Exercise “Instruction”.

The students are united into 2 teams. Each team gets the task to develop an instruction for the use of the appliance considering all possible situations. When a team presents instruction the other team looks for drawbacks and asks questions. The winner is the team to develop the instruction which is more exact and successful.

Conclusions to be drawn: To function successfully in the modern world it is necessary not only be able to use all technological means but apply them in new conditions, to teach the other to work with them, to understand the content of algorithms of operation to make it more optimal, only in that case a person will be able to work successfully and fulfill the set purposes.

A range of exercises offered to develop the readiness for self-study.

Having got education and new knowledge a person must study constantly for the knowledge not to become obsolete and thus self-study takes the first place which can add the knowledge and help master the new knowledge.

Exercise “Find your way”.

Every student proposes his own way of self-study which suits only him, gives arguments in favor of his choice, and lists advantages, the other students ask questions.

Exercise “Theses”.

The students are united into two teams. One team gets the task to find out all advantages of the self-study method proposed by the teacher, and the other team is their opponent and reveals all negative aspects of the method. When presentation takes place the students in turn demonstrate advantages and disadvantages. The winner is the team having more convincing arguments. Then the teams change the places.

Exercise “Elaboration of the text.

All students are proposed a short scientific text. They have to read the text and make a summary of it during the determined time which depends on the size of the text. Then, using the theses, it is necessary to reproduce the text and its content as exactly as possible. After that it is necessary to analyze the importance of choosing the main things. The ability to choose the main and not to distract to remember the minor things is the background of all knowledge.

Conclusions to be drawn: The requirements of the modern life are rather great and if one wants to be ahead he has to perfect oneself constantly. It is necessary to be aware of the importance of self-education and to choose the method which will be able to satisfy all one’s needs and will suit one’s individual peculiarities.

A range of exercises offered to develop information competence.

Exercise “Editorial office”.

The task is – to prepare information on any theme for the “web-site”. There must be a home page and subpages containing necessary information, pictures etc. After that the projects of web-sites must be presented in front of the class.

Conclusions to be drawn:

The flow of information is rather great now. That’s why it is necessary to use all possible sources of information. It is necessary to know them, use them, discover the new ones and perfect existing ones. It is those steps that make a person competent in information science.

A range of exercises offered to develop social competence.

Working in a team we can reach more, but the work in a team requires each its member to communicate each other, to compromise, to be able to use others’ skills and abilities, to interact effectively with the members of the team etc. Just those skills of a person are at the cutting edge at present, that’s why all those skills have to be developed and perfected constantly.

Exercise “Built up your own team”.

Two students are chosen who in their turn have to choose students for their team to take part in the project. The chosen student is presented and his strong characteristic features, personal features which can be useful for the team.

Exercise “Make up words”.

Students are united into two teams and each team is given two different words. The number of letters in the words must be the same. Each team has to build up the greatest number of the words. Then the words are read up in turn. The team wins if it builds up the greatest number of the words.

Exercise “Scientific conference”.

The students are united into two teams – to groups of scientists. They are given the same these for discussion, the have to propose different arguments, to reach agreement and develop one strategy for the further development.

Conclusions to be drawn: one person can’t know everything, that’s why the team interaction is very important, and if you master the art of the team work, you will be successful in modern life.

A range of exercises offered to develop communicative competence.

The one who masters the word – masters the world. The ability to make presentations in public, to form skills of effective management of people, to develop active interaction and tolerance is very urgent now.

Exercise “The art of persuasion” (active interaction, tolerance, elements of art of persuasion).

The students are united into pairs to compose a dialogue, to develop the main goal of the dialogue and perform it with the aim to convince a partner. Then the discussion is proposed to answer the question: What ways and methods were used to reach the purpose? Was you dialogue effective?

Exercise “Elections” and “Debates”.

All the students are proposed to develop their programs for elections of the president. Then all the students in their turn present the programs in front of the others. All the students listen to programs and estimate the content of the program and the skills of public presentation. The winners are those two students having the greatest average score.

The winners in the form of debates try to win the opponent asking questions, giving arguments, answering the questions. All other students become the supporters of one candidate and the opponents of the other one. During the debates the play the role of spectators, ask questions, and support their candidate.

Exercise “Leaflets”.

All the students write the leaflets in favor of their candidate. Attention is concentrated on the candidate’s program, on his moral features, his personality, his tasks, convincing he is the best and just he has to be the winner. All leaflets have to be stuck on the blackboard, estimated considering the following: laconic way, informative way, availability, impressiveness, and brightness. The winner is the team having the greatest score.

Thus, a student is an active and creative personality able for cognition and self-development. During the process of learning the students have an opportunity to form their own way of life and system of values.