Active methods in Distance teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages

Abstract

Active teaching methods are widely used in the pedagogically organized cognitive process in various educational disciplines. This article aims to analyze how active techniques can be integrated and effectively used in the educational process in a foreign language in the conditions of distance education at a higher educational institution of Qazaqstan. The study is of a qualitative nature of the documents analysis (lesson workshops) in professionally-oriented English, collaborated on the Moodle LMS for adult students-translators who studied in the information and communication environment (remotely) in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years. The article describes and explores some possible techniques for the active work of students studying in the university system using distance educational technologies (DET), modern methods for enhancing the educational activities of distance students in learning a foreign language, such as Kolba Method, discussions, criteria table for discussions, intelligence maps. This paper demonstrates the fundamental possibilities of teaching foreign languages remotely in an active form, allowing one to effectively learn a foreign language, to develop professional and intercultural-communicative competencies. The practical significance of the article lies in the idea of teachers using active teaching methods in preparing classes in a foreign language for distance students. Considering the complexity of organizing distance learning in foreign languages, which requires the active participation of students, we hope that this article will contribute to the development of distance technologies for the purpose of teaching foreign languages and will be useful to teachers working in the distance education field to develop high-quality and effective teaching materials and electronic courses in order to optimize and improve the competencies of students. Key words: Active methods, distance teaching & learning, e-learning course, foreign language (FL)