Practical Approach to the Concept of Lifelong Learning in Linguistic Professional Education (on the Example of Special Field “State and Municipal Governance”)

Abstract

The article discusses a topical issue of developing a system of ongoing education, which views a foreign language acquisition as an impartial element of enhancement of communicative and intercultural competences level in the context of specialization and professional career, including the sphere of state and municipal governance. The authors of the article present a detailed description of the syllabus for a continuing professional education program “English for Civil Servants in State and Municipal Governance”, which is pursued at National Research Tomsk State University on the premises of International Management Department with the support from the European Union project 544283-TEMPUS-1-2013-1-ES-TEMPUS-JPHES “Lifelong Language Learning University Centre Network for New Career Opportunities and Personal Development”. The key feature of the program offered to adult students who are already experts in their field is the use of role plays and communicative tasks directly connected with their field of expertise, allowing them to practice using their newly acquired knowledge and skills in a foreign language in situations of their daily working life thus preparing them for professional interaction in a foreign language and making them compatible in the international job market and giving them an opportunity to develop professionally through communication with their colleagues and exchange experience.