Principles of differentiated teaching English for occupational purposes to pre-service IT-specialists

Abstract

The subject of the study in this article is the principles of differentiated teaching English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) to university students majoring in IT. The analysis of recent reserach studies and publications shows that most classifications of teaching principles are common in differentiating them into those that are universal, that can be used to teach different disciplines, and specific ones that cover specific methodological features of language teaching. A significant role belongs to methodological principles which reflect theoretical and practical features of the suggested teaching methodology. The specific principles of differentiated teaching by many researchers are aimed at defining the regularities of the educational process with a focus on various individual and typological characteristics of students. Based on the experience of different researchers, the methodological and didactical principles of differentiated teaching EOP to IT-students are chosen, selected, added and analysed by the author of this article. The methodological principles include general methodological and special methodological principles. The group of general methodological principles of differentiated teaching covers 1) the principle of communication; 2) the principle of interrelated teaching all language skills; 3) the principle of the dominant role of exercises; 4) the principle of blending individual, group and collective forms of work; 5) the principle of authenticity. The group of special methodological principles of differentiated teaching comprises 1) the principle of maximal consideration of the individual educational trajectories of students; 2) the principle of group flexibility and coordinating group interaction; 3) the principle of constant evaluation and reflection; 4) the principle of quasi-professional modelling and interdisciplinarity; 5) the principle of teaching techniques variation; 6) the principle of strategies diversification. The chosen didactical principles include 1) the principle of consciousness; 2) the principle of communicative activites; 3) the principle of humanity. The selected principles of differentiated teaching EOP to university students majoring in IT make the basis of the educational process, reflect its regularities and ensure its effectiveness.