Mind-Mapping Technique Implementation into English for Specific Purposes Training

Nina Tverezovska,Oleksandra Islamova,Ihor Bloshchynskyi,Victor Rebenko,Victoriia Domina,Tamara Otroshko,Maryna Rebenko,Maxim Roganov

doi:10.13189/ujer.2020.082522

Abstract

The conducted research reveals the efficacy of a mind-mapping training technique within the English for Specific Purposes university course. The study aims at assessing the influence of mind maps on the students' motivation and language academic performance. To achieve the objective, it became relevant to study the step-by-step educational development of a university entrant, junior student and, then, a graduate as the result of practicing mind-mapping activities in classes. To accomplish the research tasks successfully it was necessary to apply the following methods: observation research, questioning, testing, output data calculating, modelling, foreseen data checking. The methods of statistical analysis, namely: data correlation, factor analysis, consequent implication, and content analysis were chosen. The three-stage experiment was fulfilled within the 2016–2018 academic years at the Faculty of Computer Sciences and Cybernetics (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine) and encompassed three groups of participants namely, the university entrants, the students of the first and fourth years of study. The research results show foreign language academic proficiency enhancement. The data prove that the respondents from the experimental research groups (in contrast to the control groups' outcomes) considered mind-mapping activities interesting and engaging. Such a learning motivation boost is due to the participants' associative, spatial and geometric thinking ability activation. Further investigation correlating students' motivation and mind maps' content is needed to facilitate the English for Specific Purposes university training.

Highlights

At the current stage of information and technological society development, there is a necessity to achieve a new quality-featured direction of education development
Due to the fact that Professor Anthony’s definition of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course is a specific “approach to teaching” (Anthony, 2017, p. 18) seemed, from our point of view, rather vague, we found it relevant to specify this concept by the mind-mapping teaching technique implementation
We are inclined to conclude that the brain reproduction of associative images develops the ability of the students from the experimental research groups to comprehend and learn training material in a “natural” way, relatively quickly and effectively comparing to the results gained from the corresponding control groups

Summary

Introduction

At the current stage of information and technological society development, there is a necessity to achieve a new quality-featured direction of education development. It concerns the high school, in particular. Today’s graduates are offered a wide range of career opportunities, and on the other hand, it is rather difficult to make a generalization of qualification requirements for a job candidate. It becomes possible to highlight some general characteristics. Thanks to the process of European integration, most employers demand strong critical thinking, fast data analysis skills, and highly appreciate innovation and technological awareness, as well as the ability to problem-solve successfully. Studying the ways to solve this issue efficiently, we made an effort to apply a mind-mapping technique as “one of the most interesting ways of introducing training issues in class, as well as systematization of a student’s self-studying process” (Tverezovska, 2017, p. 278)

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Discussion

Conclusion