FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN DISTANT EDUCATION: «PRO» AND «CONTRA»

In modern conditions, the traditional approach to teaching foreign languages is undergoing fundamental changes. The status of foreign languages in the higher education system has significantly increased owing to constantly improving information and communication technologies. The focus moves from the traditional forms of learning a foreign language to the development of technological resources and distant learning techniques. It is based on the real communicative situation performed by means of written and oral interaction between communicants. The students need to get a set of language skills which is a conglomerate of knowledge in all areas of the chosen specialty in combination with a foreign language, and apart from the common vocabulary includes the study of special terminology – the so-called thesaurus. Like any innovation, distant learning has advantages and disadvantages. The approach to the system of distant education in the mode of «pro» and «contra» (“pros” and “cons”) involves monitoring of the positive aspects and shortcomings in the field of teaching foreign languages that allows adjusting the process itself and achieving maximum efficiency of its functioning.