CC BY
11
УДК 37.01:007
ДИСТАНЦИОННОЕ ОБУЧЕНИЕ АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ ДЛЯ РАЗВИТИЯ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ КОМПЕТЕНЦИИ БУДУЩИХ МЕНЕДЖЕРОВ
Н. В. Антропова
ONLINE ENGLISH COURSE FOR DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF FUTURE MANAGERS
N. V. Antropova
Аннотация. Рассмотрены следующие понятия: стили обучения и профессиональная компетенция. Выделены компоненты профессиональной компетенции, подробно описываются системы лексических и грамматических упражнений.
Ключевые слова: стили обучения, профессиональная компетенция, система лексических упражнений, система грамматических упражнений.
Abstract. The paper deals with e-learning, learning styles and professional competence of future managers. The components of professional competence are determined. The system of lexical and grammatical exercises is described in detail.
Key words: learning styles, professional competence, the system of lexical exercises, grammar exercises system.
Distance education in Russia has become one of the most viable alternatives to regular classroom programs. Fields and subjects available are humanities, travel & tourism, commerce, public administration, science, education, management, physical education, mass communication, engineering, finance, law, accountancy, library & information science and many more. Distance education differs from the traditional forms of education - full-time and part-time. The most crucial is the remoteness of a student and a teacher. In the classroom the curriculum includes a personal and constant interaction with the teacher. The teacher is in charge of training, advice on complex themes and issues, check the test papers and tests to help prepare for exams.
Distance education features the possibility of self-selection sequence of learning objects and the pace of work. For example, in one semester you can take a course to which in the full-time education an entire year is devoted. You can stretch this course for two years.
Distance learning features lots of advantages in comparison to full-time education.
It is cheaper than full-time education. Online education costs by 40-60 % cheaper than traditional methods of training. Students are able to learn at any time and on any place with access to the Internet. Online education focuses on the student, his/her interests. It provides an unlimited choice of information about courses, supply of materials in the most desirable pace and consistency. Online English course is that it takes the guess work out of choosing an effective English course. In general, online instruction has already proven itself to be as good as or better than face-to-face instruction.
As the students have become enough aware of the benefits of the distance education in Russia, more and more universities are coming up with various conventional as well as unconventional undergraduate programs.
In this article we are going to focus on the online English course for economists offered by the Penza State University.
Effective English courses should be based on sound research in cognitive psychology and second language acquisition. Research has shown that high levels of student engagement are «a robust predictor of student achievement and behavior in school» [1]. Research has also shown that language learners move through several stages of language acquisition [2]. In addition, because different learners use different learning strategies, students most effectively learn when they can use their own learning strategies as well as have a chance to develop different learning strategies.
With or without the teacher's knowledge, effective language instruction utilizes and acknowledges the above principles. In this regard there is no difference between classroom instruction and online instruction. The difference is that online instruction can pick and choose the best teachers and material to effectively teach English. On the other hand, language school materials and teachers can be hit or miss. Some programs may be excellent, but are spoiled by a poor teacher. Other programs may have excellent teachers but are spoiled by a poor curriculum. One only needs to know that the online English course is based on sound research.
Learning styles is generally described as «cognitive, affective, and physiological traits that are relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment» [3]. Learning styles can vary greatly between individuals. This becomes especially relevant when considering learning English as a second language.
Researchers have separated learning styles into six main groups: auditory learners, visual learners, tactile learners, kinesthetic learners, group learning, and individual learning.
The teacher who develops online English courses should adapt the curriculum, methodology, and presentation to the individual nature of the student . Delivering teaching content in different contexts can facilitate language learners to use different strategies and thus accelerate learning. A curriculum may benefit from providing varying instructional situations to accommodate different learning styles. Thus, information presented in different contexts and situations can accelerate learning by utilizing the students individual learning . The Internet is the perfect tool for providing teaching content in various contexts, such as; pictures, videos, activities, games, passive learning exercises, active engagement exercises, use of different characters with different voices, various conversational contexts, animations, cartoons, action skits, and classroom lectures.
This paper deals with developing professional foreign language competence of future managers by means of online courses. First of all, it is necessary to define «linguistic competence « and «professional competence».
The analysis of the works by Bim I. L., Tikhomirova E. V., Izarenkova D. I. allowed us to determine the structure of the linguistic competence which consists of phonetics, lexics, syntax, morphology, grammar. Considering that we are talking about developing professional competence necessary for future managers to perform their professional tasks, to communicate with foreign colleagues, then we should mention developing professional competence. Its components are profes-
sional vocabulary, speaking skills, reading skills and auditing skills and writing skills.
E-learning should be organized to form and develop all these skills. Online English course for managers should include:
- professional vocabulary carefully selected on the basis of the frequency and relevance) and a system of exercises ;
- collocations and a series of professional clichés ;
- grammar exercises;
- tests after each module and a final test after the course of study designed to test the level of acquisition ;
- links to online resources that provide additional information
- additional material , textbooks , manuals .
For the development of the distance learning course for managers the frequency analysis of professional texts was held to select useful vocabulary and grammar. Then we classified and combined vocabulary based on themes. So we made a decision on the following topics : «Business Structure», «Forms of business», «Management», «Functions of management», «Economical systems», «Mixed economy», «Marketing», «Marketing strategies». Finally, we downloaded some audios that met our requirements. The development of lexical skills is provided by the exercises:
1. Use the following suffixes /prefixes to form words.
2. Find the synonyms / antonyms.
3. Find in the text the English equivalents for.
4. Fill in the gaps in the sentences.
5. Match the definition to the word.
6. Make up word-combinations and translate them.
7. Choose the odd word.
Grammar exercises are aimed at forming and developing grammar skills. They are usually arranged to provide step-by-step acquisition and master a new grammar. First we get students acquainted with a new grammar, then exercises are used to reproduce and recognize new structures.
For example:
1. Form Participle II of the following verbs.
2. Look through the text and choose verbs (1-10) in the Passive Voice .
3. Put the verbs in the Passive Voice . Check the answers using the keys.
4. Fill in the blanks with the verbs in brackets by selecting the correct answer.
5. Put questions to the sentences with the interrogative words given in brackets.
6. Translate the sentences using a table
Thus, professional competence of future managers in distance learning is provided by using interactive online English course which should be based on sound scientific research and include interactive exercises.
References
1. Klem, A. Relationships matter: linking teacher support to student engagement and achievement / A. Klem, J. Connell // Journal of School Health. - 2004. -№ 74 (7). -Р. 262-273.
2. Krashen, Stephen D. The natural approach: Language acquisition in the classroom / Stephen D. Krashen, Tracy D. Terrell. - Hayward, CA : Alemany Press, 1983. - 183 p.
3. Keefe, J. W. Learning style overview, student learning style: Diagnosing and prescribing programs / J. W. Keefe. - Reston, Va. : NASSP, 1979. - Р. 1-18.
Антропова Наталья Викторовна
доцент,
кафедра английского языка, Пензенский государственный университет E-mail: [email protected]
Antropova Natalia Viktorovna
associate professor, sub-department of english language, Penza State University
УДК 37.01:007 Антропова, Н. В.
Дистанционное обучение английскому языку для развития профессиональной компетенции будущих менеджеров / Н. В. Антропова // Модели, системы, сети в экономике, технике, природе и обществе. - 2014. - № 1 (9). - С. 143-146.
