Experimental Efficiency Study of Project Technology as a Means of Formation Foreign Language Competence of Future Electric Power Engineers

Abstract

The paper covers the ways of building foreign language competence of students majoring in electrical engineering in the process of their vocational training. The purpose of the article is the practical substantiation of the process of forming the future energy engineers’ foreign languagecompetence by means of project technology and carrying out diagnostic measures to check its effectiveness in foreign language learning. The methods used in this research are theoretical (analysis, comparison, systematization, generalization), empirical research methods (observations, surveys, pedagogical experiment), and statistical (non-parametric Pearson's criterion.). The results. The efficiency of project technology in the indicated process has been substantiated. A number of factors that determine the choice of such a learning technology has been specified, namely they are the following: student-oriented approach, foreign language learner autonomy, building project-oriented skills in specialty metalanguage, relationship between project work as a form of performing educational assignments and types of engineering activity. Author’s definition of project technology has been provided. By this notion a system of active and practical methods of learner-centered education aimed at programmed organization of students’ project activity, creation of educational projects that involve developing skills of independent knowledge acquisition, their practical handling, development of critical and creative thinking and key competences, is meant. The efficiency of project technology in the educational process has been experimentally verified by the example of developing foreign-language competence of students doing Master’s degree in electrical engineering. In order to determine the efficiency of project technology in the process of foreign language teaching to students in the master’s programme compared to traditional teaching methods, control groups and experimental groups with such attributes as reproductive properties, constructability and creativity were formed. Foreign language competence forming according to motivational, communication, professional, projecting and performance indicators was implemented in the process of executing profession-oriented projects. In order to assess the results of future power engineers’ project work, 100-point scale was developed. Conclusions. According to the results of the performed project work, it was determined that the level of foreign language competence in the experimental groups was higher than the one in the control groups. Generalized maturity indices of motivational, communication, professional, projecting and performance components in the control groups and in the experimental groups differed significantly. Group inhomogeneity and the significant differences were confirmed with the help of statistical non-parametric Pearson’s test χ². The obtained results of the pedagogical experiment have proved the efficiency of the suggested project technology and its rationale for implementing in the process of future electric power engineers’ foreign language teaching.