Developing Cognitive Competence in Students of Non-linguistic Specialties in the Course of Working with Social Media Neologisms

Abstract

The paper concentrates on developing of a cognitive competence in students of non-linguistic specialties during foreign language classes. The article considers the concept of cognitive competence as a key component in the composition of foreign language communicative competence and analyzes its role in the activity-based approach to learning, in which much attention is paid to the autonomy of students. The paper addresses the issue of increasing the hours allocated for independent work of students at non-linguistic departments, which implies a more research-based nature of learning. The relevance of the article consists in finding ways to organize and motivate students’ independent cognitive and practical activities aimed at mastering the material. The article also touches upon the issue related to the fact that students of non-linguistic specialties have very little time scheduled for the word-building of a foreign language. The paper considers the possibility of forming cognitive competence, as well as deepening knowledge about word-forming models of the English language in the process of independent cognitive activity of students associated with the search for the meanings of social media neologisms and identifying their word-building ways. Neologisms are studied as a phenomenon, practicable ways of forming these language units, similar to the word-building models of standard words, are given. The vocabulary of social networks is viewed as a language layer relevant for the modern student. Educational potential of the Internet resources for students to work independently is studied.KeywordsCognitive competenceActivity-based approachStudents’ independent workSocial media neologismsWord-building models