EFFECTIVENESS OF USING COMPUTERS FOR LANGUAGE TRAINING OF HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SPECIALISTS

V. L. Ishchenko
Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor
Poltava University of Economics and Trade, Ukraine, Poltava
valentinaishchnko@yahoo.com
V.I. Voskoboinyk
Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor
Poltava University of Economics and Trade, Ukraine, Poltava
suc7us@ukr.net

EFFECTIVENESS OF USING COMPUTERS FOR LANGUAGE TRAINING OF HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SPECIALISTS

Language is an important tool that we use to communicate with other people in our daily and working lives. Foreign languages are really vital and play an important part in the sphere of business. In the business environment, foreign languages are necessary for internal and external communication, getting a good job, and understanding other cultures. Good communication in a foreign language becomes so crucial in today’s world owing to the impact of globalization. For global competitors, the most important factor is the ability to communicate on a wider, quicker and clearer basis. Understanding the roles of a foreign language will be beneficial because it assists understanding of conversations, communications and negotiations between business people and foreign customers. Businessmen can run international businesses more smoothly with the use of foreign languages and their foreign customers will feel more satisfied. In business, not only speaking and listening skills are important but also other skills including reading, writing and negotiating are necessary. Any foreign language can be used in business depending on customers and the nature of business and the market involved.
A communicative approach as an innovative way to teach English for business students has been put forth around the world recently. It is not exclusively concerned with face-to-face oral communication. The principles of a communicative approach involve the use of different innovative teaching techniques, including computer-based language learning. The use of computers in class is especially critical for teaching business-oriented disciplines because today’s graduates need both computer and language skills in order to succeed in this fiercely competitive marketplace.
Using a computer, the Internet in particular, influences the students’ attitude to learning a foreign language efficiently. It encourages spending more hours with English finding necessary information or doing some interesting tasks and tests.
First of all, computer-based learning encompasses a wide selection of CD-ROM resources which contain a lot of very interesting programs. CD-ROMs are an effective way of teaching because they enable students to combine tasks presented by different native speakers by means of texts, charts, sounds, animation and video. They are based on a communicative approach as they allow students to create a real-life situation. CD-disks increase effectiveness of teaching English due to the fact that students can get necessary information, refresh some rules, ask a computer for help any time they need it. That is, CD-disks provide feedback in the form of a dialogue between a student and a computer.
It’s worth mentioning, that working with CD-ROMs enables students to work independently on their own using individual speed and preferred sequence of tasks and material. Taking into account students’ psychological peculiarities it is rather important because it influences the process of mastering English greatly.
Secondly, computers are used effectively for e-learning which is commonly referred to as an intentional use of computer information and communications technology for learning foreign languages. It is very convenient for students to access learning at any time, from any place. E-learning is a kind of cooperative learning. It reduces the amount of expenses (travel time and travel costs for students). All activities are done by internet with the help of different professors from different places. E-learning gives students the opportunity to learn more than one major or specialty. Computer technologies are a basic enabler of e-learning.
Thirdly, computers offer students an enormous amount of Internet resources: text, educational, advertising and media ones. Students can work with professional tasks connected with their future professions. Computers provide authentic professional materials so students can see how the language can be applied for solving professional situations.
Thus using computer technology has the following advantages:
- Students’ motivation and involvement in learning ESP increase. Computer technologies make the process of learning foreign languages more interesting, dynamic and appealing to students. They allow using online games as a language teaching device. Games are more attractive for learners and make the learning process more efficient. When students are attracted by the actions, sounds and pictures, they try to imitate them (intonation, behaviour, body language).
- Students can use the latest information sources in English from the Internet such as on-line periodicals, an interactive study guide, current events articles, tests and exercises, research centre, different patterns of documents. The Internet is a great easily accessible source of getting information to work on-line independently/ in the university computer lab or at home/; students can check their answers and analyze their mistakes while doing on-line exercises and tests getting a feedback from a computer; students can extend their outlook by looking through different information resources; students’ analytical and diagnostic skills are developed as they are required to choose necessary information and then generalize it.
- Students can get deeper understanding of different cultures through communication with native speakers via chat rooms and emails. They can develop their communicative competency while familiarizing with different cultures and strengthening their language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Due to blogs, emails and chat rooms, learners are able to enhance both their accuracy and fluency in a foreign language.
- Computer technologies allow using electronic dictionaries, glossaries directories and electronic glosses/annotations in teaching English. It saves a lot of time while learning a foreign language.
Thus, computers are a necessary and useful tool in teaching foreign languages. A computer mediated environment makes the learning process more motivated, enjoyable and successful. Computer-based learning develops students’ four main language skills necessary for their success in this fiercely competitive marketplace.