Развитие языковой коммуникативной компетентности студентов транспортного университета на занятиях по английскому языку с помощью использования профессионально ориентированных текстов

Abstract

In accordance with the current foreign language program for non-linguistic universities, training of future specialists in a foreign language should be professionally oriented. Special emphasis is placed on implementation of the transition from learning a foreign language as an academic discipline to its practical use for professional purposes, since this is the main task of the program. Modern graduates should have professional and communicative competence, which is a necessary quality for subsequent effective professional activity, which will require them to speak a foreign language within the framework of professional communication. This may include reading special original texts, participating in discussions, presentations, and situations of scientific and professional communication in a foreign language. Professionally-oriented foreign language teaching means education, the essence of which is its integration with the core disciplines and can be considered as a means of improving professional competence and personal and professional development of students. Professionally-oriented teaching of a foreign language implies, first of all, the professional orientation of the content of educational materials, as well as activities containing techniques for the formation of professional phenomena. Future engineers and scientists can acquire extensive modern knowledge in English classes in order to get acquainted with the results of the latest research and achievements in the field of science and technology. Reading in this case becomes the main way of obtaining such information. Therefore, we can say that reading in transport universities is both a tool and a goal of teaching a foreign language. In this paper, we tried to consider the need to develop reading skills of specialized literature for students of transport universities and to determine the role of reading in the process of teaching/learning English. We look upon professionally-oriented foreign language teaching as part of teaching students of railway specialties of the Ural State University of Railway Transport to read special authentic texts. The main criteria for the selection of authentic texts for professionally oriented reading, methodological approaches to organization, presentation of the text material and the most effective methods of working with such texts are considered. Practical examples of tasks are presented when working on a text, with the use of a communicative approach in teaching as a priority. The statement about the importance of teaching reading texts in the specialty, facilitating to develop the professional and communicative competence of students, is grounded.