Digital tools for successful students’ business communication in non-linguistic higher education institutions

Abstract

The article demonstrates ways of digital tools application for business interaction of students studying foreign languages in non-linguistic higher education institutions. The research rested on the principles of competence-based approach and ecosystem approach. The following investigating methods were used: the theoretical analysis of literature and empirical methods such as testing, pedagogical experiment, quantitative and qualitative analyzing results of the experiment. The purpose and algorithm of the work presented were determined by the main methodological principles of teaching a foreign language and the results planned in the Basic educational program of higher education of bachelor’s degree. The purpose of the study was to identify ways and methods of effective use of digital tools for developing business communication skills of students in non-linguistic universities. The possibilities of modern digital tools to provide successful students’ business communication s in the context of a foreign language environment were analyzed. The digital tools Miro, Nearpod, and Google Calendar were chosen for the work. The following statement was formulated. Methodically competent use of the digital tools would improve students’ skills to conduct a dialogue and create a monologue in a foreign language in accordance with the goals and conditions of business communication. The presented statement had been verified by empirical methods. The experimental and control groups of first-year undergraduate students were formed according to the level of their foreign language skills determined by the entrance testing. During the experiment, students were required to prepare and hold several conferences with presentations on certain issues, followed by discussions. Criteria were developed for evaluating monologues-presentations and subsequent discussions in the form of an exchange of dialogical statements. During the preparation and holding of conferences, the students of the experimental group used selected digital tools (Miro, Nearpod, Google Calendar). The students of the control group did not use these digital tools. As a result of the experiment, significant dynamics in the level of preparing and presenting the material among the students of the experimental group was noted. The obtained results allowed the authors to develop methodological algorithm for the effective use of digital tools in business interaction of students studying in non-linguistic higher education institutions