Technology of improving foreign language communication skills of master’s students majoring natural and technical sciences

Abstract

The rapid development of the Internet, as well as the digitalization of almost all spheres of human life, marked the transition from an industrial to an information-technogenic society, as predicted by futurologists in the middle of the last century. The growth of the information and technological space and the intensification of production electronization put forward increased requirements for the training of specialists in the natural sciences and technical profiles, primarily engineers. The given study is focused on the actual problem of improving foreign language skills of Master’s students at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology that participates in the federal project «Advanced Engineering Schools». Despite the fact that this project is aimed at training highly qualified personnel for the exclusively Russian economy, it seems that it could be further developed within the scientific and professional cooperation between Russia and the BRICS and SCO states, which is impossible without a sufficiently high level of foreign language. As a result, we have identified the advantages of a communicative approach in linguodidactics (orientation to the practical component of the educational content, motivation for communication, maximum development of thinking skills, etc.). Besides, we have established the requirements for exercises aimed at developing students' communication skills, intellectual and cognitive abilities, and forming stable positive motivation to master a foreign language for professional, research, and teaching activities.