DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Abstract

The article examines the possibilities to use modern digital developments in foreign language teaching at a higher school. The mentioned technologies allow raising students’ motivation for teaching, stimulating the development of the autonomous learning skills, reducing the anxiety level. The author analyses the problems and prospects for the use of educational technologies based on the digital and mobile applications. Special attention is paid to interactive and game based learning methods, the effectiveness of which has been proven not once. Skillful running of interactive seminars with the use of BBC podcasts improves speaking and listening abilities and keeps students interested and motivated. The article also gives characteristics of game-based learning of foreign languages with the use of a computer. Game-based learning takes special place at the seminars of Professional foreign language for the students of economic specialities. These methods allow develop foreign language competence of future specialists most effectively. The use of game-based learning in teaching English for special purposes allows apply the common principles of improved teaching, which are typical for these technologies. They are as follows: active teaching, dynamic teaching, interest in the process of getting various competences, performance of the roles, typical for the future professional activities, collectiveness in solving learning tasks, predictions of the situations of business and professional communication, feedback, problem teaching, result-oriented teaching, autonomous taking decisions and choosing specific methods, the systematic process of getting knowledge, competitiveness. All the principles mentioned above raise the effectiveness of teaching English.