Principles of Learner Autonomy as a Base for Teaching Professionally Oriented Foreign Language

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of the research concerning the necessity of basing the process of teaching professionally oriented foreign languages in technical universities on the principles of leaner autonomy. The research was conducted in MAI (National Research University), Moscow. In MAI, 90 students enrolled in the BA studies, specializing in applied mathematics, and 4 language teachers participated in the study. The work consisted of the questionnaire survey and the introduction into the teaching process elements which are based on the principles of the autonomous learning and let the students a possibility to study a foreign language autonomously taking into consideration their own aims in studying professionally oriented foreign language. We identified digital technologies and teaching approaches that are relevant for daily professional-oriented use, development of skills of various types of speech activity which promote learner autonomy in the framework of teaching and learning in technical non-linguistic universities. The use communicative teaching methods, technology of podcasts, and online learning environment (lms.mai.ru) are examples of methodological approaches based on information technology and relevant from the point of view of ESL learner autonomy, student-oriented organization of the teaching process. The approaches based on learner autonomy principles helped to increase the efficiency of foreign language teaching in MAI (National research university), Moscow.