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Ученые записки Крымского федерального университета имени В. И. Вернадского
Социология. Педагогика. Психология. Том 2 (68). 2016. № 3. С. 26-31.
UDC 371
COMPLEX OF EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FOR CADETS OF NAVIGATIONAL DEPARTMENT AT EMERGENCY RADIO TRAFFIC
Bozhko Y. I.
Academy of humanities and pedagogy, V. I. Vernadsky CFU, Yalta
The article describes teaching techniques aimed at forming communicative skills of a foreign language in the professional sphere at emergency radio traffic. The patterns suggested include professionally oriented exercises training skills of speech production and designed for navigating students.
Keywords: professional communicative competence in a foreign language, a complex of exercises, problem situations, stages of formation of speech skills, professionally oriented training, VHF.
INTRODUCTION
Following the present-day concept of modernization accepted in the system of Russian education targeted at improving professional higher education in the field of foreign languages, formation of independent and creative thinking of students in order to achieve practical results is considered an acute problem.
Nowadays sailors often have to work in international crews, so prospective navigating engineers need to be able to perceive foreign speech quickly and correctly and communicate in a foreign language in professional emergency situations correspondingly.
Professional foreign language communication on a vessel depends a lot on the circumstances in the sea. It is often based on real working situations on board, so studies should cover typical patterns including the ones training dialogical skills as one of the components. Such communicative conditions contribute to interconnection among students, which affects their speech behaviour. Thus, formation of foreign professional communicative competence of students of Navigational Department is based on situational approach in foreign language teaching [8]. That's why one of the tasks of a foreign language teacher is to lay the foundation for future communication of marine specialists in a foreign language so that they can work in international crews.
The purpose of this article is to consider a complex of exercises for development of English professional communicative competence of students of Navigational Department at the professional level.
THE MAIN PART
1. Peculiarities of Professional Communication of Marine Navigators in a Foreign Language
In the sphere of professional activity of navigators, a lot depends on the ability of the crew to communicate with each other. As far as English is promoted as an international language of communication among sailors, operational and supervisory personnel, knowledge of Sea English primarily outlines spheres of communication among mariners and helps to avoid errors that may lead to emergency situations at sea.
Due to the professional activities of marine specialists, three types of foreign language communicative situations can be singled out: ordinary, extraordinary and extreme. The first ones deal with difficulties in understanding relating to exchange of information. Extraordinary situations refer to misunderstanding in communication connected with the necessity to take a prompt, often mutual decision. Extreme situations involve exchange of information of a unique character, so misinterpretation is likely to appeal to full mobilization and professional skills of the whole team [3]. Extraordinary and extreme situations are characterized by unpredictability and often limited time for decision making.
Readiness of navigators to work in these types of situations determines success of professional communication. Therefore, modeling in the learning process specific features of specialist's activities in multicultural environment (including foreign language communication in emergency) is considered a necessary part ensuring readiness for professional communication in a foreign language on board.
The main attention in this process is paid to the formation of professional communicative competence of prospective marine navigators.
Communication with a navigator is carried out with the help of a special sea language of communicative channels and is based on Sea Speak system, as well as on the international AIMCAP leadership, which require a clear program of radio exchange in accordance with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization named "Standard Marine Communication Phrases". This exchange system is characterized by professional clichés, ellipses, simple grammatical structures and specific messaging procedures [5]. In this regard, the complex of pedagogical techniques should focus on mastering a foreign language by a cadet in collaboration with the teacher. For this, the use of educational means should be directed at mastering by students typical problems such as: «Performing duties during watch keeping on the bridge», «Performing anchoring and mooring», «Implementation of alarm actions», «Emergency operation», «Damage control» and so on. The acquisition of a foreign language at proficiency level by the students contributes to successful perception of foreign language communicative situations and thus, reduce the crew's level of uncertainty and anxiety.
The proposed research reviews setting and further development of experimental ways of mastering a foreign language professional communicative competence for the students of navigational department which is performed with a complex of situational exercises.
The complex is tailored for navigators and focuses on training a professionally oriented communication in a foreign language in different situations in the sea.
An exercise is viewed as a basic methodological concept and term. In modern methodical literature, the notion is considered «structural unit of methodical organization of educational material as well as a unit of foreign speech teaching» [ 1, P. 119].
In teaching practice there are three types of exercises:
a) naturally communicative;
b) relatively communicative (training and communication);
c) non-communicative (intermediate).
In our opinion, a system of exercises should include language training exercises for teaching professionally oriented foreign communication of prospective navigators. Intermediate exercises are aimed at formation and development of lexical skills, for the profession of marine navigators includes solution of various issues, in particular navigational, radio engineering and medical ones.
Applying naturally communicative exercises in training professional marine English is used in discussions of students' projects, preparation of the covering letters, organization of business games, etc.
Exercises must not be mechanical, but must take into account interests and needs of the students who are going to become navigators. The tasks are believed to be aimed at developing cognitive skills in order to help students understand official documents, instructions and descriptions since the content of such papers serve the basis of business negotiations with officials. It is important that these dialogues are accompanied by exercises full of communicative professional terminology and specific speech patterns.
Nowadays radio communication in the sea depends on certain rules of the IMO Sea Speak that is characterized by certain standard phrases and word markers in addition.
You must pay attention to the fact that in order to regulate radiotelephone exchange the concept of Controlling Station has been introduced. Its duties include selection of working channel, beginning and closing a communication. The leading station in "ship-to-ship" communication is the station which is contacted first, while in a communication with a coast station this function performs the coast station. When you first call, the vessel repeats its name twice and the call sign (if it has any) in the following sequence: name - call sign - name - call sign. Each message finishes with the word "over", which marks the end of the mode of information transmission and change into the "receive mode". The word "out" refers to the end of communication, which is usually followed by the phrase "thank you".
There are some general rules for a radio telephone exchange, namely:
1) slow pace of speech;
2) clear pronunciation of each word;
3) the use of word indexes.
In case of poor reception conditions and difficulties with word pronunciation, spelling is used. Each letter has its code. Figures should be transmitted like words. Two and more digit numbers should be pronounced like single digits.
Vessels keep a constant watch on VHF, but in difficult conditions, for example when a vessel approaches straits, narrowness or ports, radio station on channel 16 is switched on. Coast radio stations constantly keep watch on it. Channel 16 is on duty and is used for the following things [5]:
- transmission of a coming disaster, accident reports (transmitted by MAYDAY words);
- transmission of urgent requests of help (transmitted by PAN PAN words);
- transmission of urgent messages relating to safety of navigation, including storm warnings (transmitted by SECURITE words);
- calling for negotiations followed by the transition to other channels (13, 17, 72, 73,
77).
In narrow waters, straits, channel 13 is also used for negotiations. All radio stations are obliged to keep silence for three minutes every half an hour from 00th to 03d and 30th to 33d minute every hour to listen to emergency signals on channel 16.
In order to facilitate mutual understanding word indexes are used during radio communication. Among them one can name the following.
1) Question - indicates that the following message has an interrogative character.
For example: "QUESTION: (What is) your draught?" / «ВОПРОС: (Какова) Ваша
осадка?»
2) Request - indicates that something is to be arranged or provided for the vessel.
For example: "REQUEST: I require a tug" / «ЗАПРОС: Мне требуется буксир.»
3) Intention - indicates that the following message informs others about an immediate navigational action intended to be taken.
For example: "NTENTION: I (intend) to reduce my speed"/ «НАМЕРЕНИЕ: Я буду уменьшать скорость.»
4) Information - indicates that the following message is restricted to observed facts, a given situation, etc.
For example: "INFORMATION: Buoy 25 (is) unlighted"/ «ИНФОРМАЦИЯ: Буй 25 не горит»
5) Advice - indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence others with a Recommendation
For example: "ADVICE: Stand by on VHF Channel 13"/ «СОВЕТ: Ожидайте на УКВ канале 13».
6) Warning - indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to inform others about a danger.
For example: "WARNING: Storm warning" / «Штормовое ПРЕДУПРЕЖДЕНИЕ».
7) Instruction - ndicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence others with a Regulation.
For example: "INSTRUCTION: Stop your engines" / «ПРИКАЗ: Остановить двигатель».
In order to control correctness of the information transmitted and thus the received message with word indexes, it is necessary to repeat it and respond by starting a message with the word indexes.
If there is uncertainty about the correctness of the received data or their misunderstanding, you should reply "say again" which means "it is necessary to repeat what was said". If you receive a "read back" message, repeat what you have heard. If you get the message "you make a mistake", then it is necessary to use a standard word "mistake" amended by a standard word "correction".
There follows some examples of typical exercises related to making a request for a medical advice by radio produced by the chief officer.
Exercise 1.
1) There is a sick person on the board of your ship. He is suffering from a headache and high blood pressure. Contact Coast Guard station by radiotelephone on VHF channel
18 and request a medical advice from radio medical center. Inform a doctor of the chronic diseases of the sick people. Tell him if any medicine has been taken.
2) There is a case of acute appendicitis on your board. Contact Ravie Coastguard Station by radiotelephone on VHP channel 16 and request a helicopter for urgent medical evacuation of your crew member. Inform the coastguard about your present position and weather and sea conditions in your area. The coastguard is to give the ETA of a helicopter in the given position.
Role play with your partner broadcasting the following safety messages by VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) and their acknowledging by ship."
1. 221530UTC Nov.
During the period from 23rd Nov. to 2nd Dec. underwater ordnance exercises will be carried out in psn: Lat: 01°14'N Long 103°58'E. Sailing in the area is not recommended. Wide berth is requested.
2. 071905 UTC Dec.
No sufficient depth of water in psn: Lat: 01°09'N Long: 103°48'E. All ships are requested to pass south of this area.
3. 201340 UTC Aug.
Lighthouse TEMBAKUL in psn: Lat: 01°13,4'N Long 103°52'E temporally discontinued and unreliable. All ships are requested to navigate with caution.
4. 282130 UTC Sept.
During the period from 29th Sept. to 3rd October cable and pipeline operations will be carried out in psn: Lat: 51°08'N Long 004°12,4'E by hydrographic vessel "Boston" All ships are recommended to give a berth of 2 cables from this area.
Exercise 2.
Role play with your partner broadcasting the following safety messages by ship and their acknowledging by VTS. Don't forget to give appropriate advice:
1. keep/well/clear of this area;
2. avoid area;
3. give a wide berth/give a berth of 2,5 cables;
4. navigate with caution;
5. keep a sharp lookout;
6. contact via VHF channel 16.
1. You have sighted hazardous mine adrift in psn; Lat 01°09'N Long 103°41'E which in a danger to navigation.
2. You have sighted unlit derelict vessel adrift in psn; bearing 032°distance 1,6 miles from Middle Channel Rock Lighthouse at 071230 UTC. Wide berth requested.
3. You have sighted an oil slick extending S, length-125 metres, width-95 metres, in psn: Lat 52°02'N Long 004°04'E, time 2230 UTC, which is a danger to navigation.
4. Drifting-buoy No.2 marked QC-4 is off station, new position is 1.5 miles eastward of the charted position. Ships are recommended to keep well clear.
This complex of exercises is aimed at the development of dialogical speech and conducting radio communication by students in all kinds of speech activities (speaking, listening, writing and reading) involving usage of technical devices, e.g. tape recorder to
listen to radiotelephone talks, videos, and ICT. Setting individual assignments must be based on personal interests and individual characteristics of the students.
These communicative situations allow students to follow not only specific format of radiotelephone talks with urgency stamp, but also independently vary individual components of the situation, such as estimated time of arrival of the helicopter, and other parameters. All exercises are professionally oriented.
Therefore, when you teach prospective navigators a foreign language, you must carefully select a range of typical communicative situations to simulate a real professional communication among crew members. Communicative situations should become the basis for the construction of educational process and for the selection of educational material for development of language skills and abilities of the students.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, the proposed complex of exercises are based on the following principles:
1) clear structure;
2) situational approach;
3) organization of various modes of student activities;
4) use of authentic materials;
5) combination of exercises aimed at the development of speaking skills (namely, dialogical speech), with exercises to teach listening, writing and reading.
6) professional orientation of all the exercises aimed at achieving high results in professional communicative competence in a foreign language;
7) considering different levels of speech competence achieved by students.
Using this complex of exercises in the curriculum helps to expand training and educational opportunities of the course "English for Specific Purposes" by the introduction of practical problems which are solved by the students during discussions in the classroom.
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