L2 education in the digital era: post-pandemic prospects

Abstract

This article considers the general rise in the digitalization of second language (L2) education in the world in general and in Russia in particular. A concrete study of the various novel game-changing digital products and solutions being offered on the L2 education market is made, followed by an analysis of their effectiveness and impact on this market. A special emphasis is made on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of the development and adoption of digital products and solutions in L2 education and training, together with the prospects for further advancements in the field. Further, an investigation is conducted on the increasingly complex requirements for linguistic skills among professionals working in various industries in the Russian Federation and across the world, and on how various economic structures have raised their demand for these competencies against the background of the rapid globalization of industry and commerce at large.