Evidence-based education studies

In the modern world, proficiency in foreign languages has become an important factor for successful employment and career growth. However, lack of motivation and sufficient speech practice can become an obstacle on the way to the formation of the necessary speech skills. In this regard, as a solution to this problem, the use of case study technology is proposed. The author of the study has developed a series of cases based on feature films in English, aimed at students of levels B1 and B2. The aim of the work was to create methodological recommendations for designing cases based on films and their implementation in English classes. The author examines the stages of case design, starting from formulating the problem and choosing a film to organizing classes using the developed cases. The paper emphasizes that the use of feature films as a basis for case studies activates the listening skills in a foreign language, enriches students’ vocabulary and stimulates their active participation in the discussion of the issue. The author comes to the conclusion that film-based cases contribute to the activation of students’ interaction in a foreign language, develop their communicative skills and teamwork skills, as well as formation of professional skills. In addition, the use of those cases facilitate the development of such soft skills as information analysis, critical thinking, and activity planning. Thus, the study demonstrates that the educational approach based on the use of feature films contributes to more effective teaching of English, improves the quality of the learning process, and increases students’ motivation in general.

The study of the features of the educational system of the Republic of Ghana in the context of the third stage of higher education is necessary for the further development of Russian-Ghanaian relations and the growth of partnership projects between higher educational institutions of Russia and Ghana. A proper understanding of the educational system of the Republic of Ghana, as well as the existing problems in the training of postgraduate students and possible ways to solve them, can help to improve the training process of highly qualified teaching staff. The purpose of the work is to reveal the problems of the third stage of higher education in the context of teacher training, and identify possible ways to solve them. The study analyses: 1) the characteristics of the higher education sector in the Republic of Ghana, in particular its tertiary level; 2) existing state initiatives in the country to improve the training of highly qualified teaching staff on the third stage of higher education; 3) statistics characterizing the current situation of postgraduate studies within the framework of higher education in the country; 4) the challenges emerging in the training of highly qualified teachers in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as their relevance to tertiary education in the Republic of Ghana. The study has identified the following difficulties that affect the process of writing and successful defense of dissertations: insufficient awareness of graduate students about further prospects for their employment with a PhD; insufficient financial security of postgraduate students; insufficient level of scientific supervision and excessive academic workload on supervisors of dissertation research. The study proposes solutions to the existing problems, such as increasing financial incentives for high-achieving PhD students, increasing control over the process of scientific supervision, placing greater emphasis on conducting interdisciplinary research and establishing partnerships with other countries of the African continent, and developing existing interaction with states outside Africa, including the Russian Federation.