Technical University Students’ Creativity Development in Competence-Based Foreign Language Classes

Abstract

AbstractTechnical university students should master general competencies which are as follows: critical thinking, project and teamwork, leadership, communication, cross-cultural interaction and self-development. In modern society graduates have to be highly-competitive, ready to further career development, capable of quick adaptation in constantly changing world. The article demonstrates the application of various creative learning technologies (participation at the Olympiads and forums; use of project technologies; debates; use of game techniques; listening and using various authentic sources) at foreign language classes based on a competence approach and it shows how learning English through creative technologies helps students better master the foreign language. The authors suggest the idea that creatively thinking teachers using the different creative learning activities at the lessons can contribute to formation of creatively thinking students capable to act at different language environment adequately and to become critically thinking specialists at their field, good professional team members and constantly developing personalities with high level of both language and soft skills. The results of the creative techniques usage were illustrated with the help of a pedagogical experiment showing substantiation of using creativity development technologies. The students at the experimental group, in which creative techniques were used, showed greater progress at language and soft skills mastering. The correlation between the development of competencies and the use of some creative techniques was summarized.KeywordsCompetence-based approachCreativityForeign language classes