scholarly journals Skype technologies in developing listening and speaking skills when teaching English to tour guides

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-458
Author(s):  
Anna V. Pushkina ◽  
◽  
Lyudmila V. Krivoshlykova ◽  
Elena V. Larina ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need for the formation and development of listening and speaking skills, which are crucial for guides-translators who use English in work with foreign tourists and require constant improvement. It is the distance learning format that allows you to improve your professional language level. The purpose of the study is to develop a model for on-line teaching guides the English language employing Skype technologies. Methodology. The key research methods were the method of a needs analysis (questionnaires and interviews) and a pedagogical experiment. Questionnaires, interviews and testing allowed selecting the participants of the experiment who demonstrated high motivation to study online and confirmed their B1-B2 level of English. The experiment, which took place on the basis of the Moscow School of Tourism and Hospitality "Tour Center", involved two groups of 14 people each. Using a learner-centered approach we created a twelve-week Skype-based English course, which correlated with the professional training syllabus of the participants of the experiment. Results. The results of the final testing and interview showed that this technique with the use of Skype technologies is effective and contributes to the further formation and development of speaking and listening skills. The number of students experiencing difficulty demonstrating these skills decreased from 55% to 22% and 60% to 30%, respectively. In addition, the approbation of the developed model revealed the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning in general and Skype technologies in particular. Conclusion. The study showed the high efficiency of Skype-technologies in teaching English for special purposes as part of an additional educational course. The developed methodology can be used in the process of practice-oriented training aimed at forming the professional competencies of future specialists.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Priya K. Nair

In India acquisition of English language is imperative if one wants to sell oneself in the increasingly competitive job market. With a booming population the nation is filled with educated, technologically literate youth. English is not merely a foreign language in India. As India is separated by a plethora of languages knowledge of English is imperative. As the teachers in India are not native speakers of English the language they teach is not free from errors. The articulation is quite problematic as the mother tongue influence is quite pronounced. Technology helps to reduce these errors. Movies as a tool can enhance the listening and speaking skills of our students. It is quite boring to work with disembodied voices and the recorded conversations available in language labs do not sustain the learner’s interest. However learners are often forced to listen to recorded conversations of people they never see, the conversation is often stilted and contemporary idiom is hardly used. However, a completely new dimension to aural practice can be added in the classroom by using movies. <br /><p><strong> </strong></p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Guzacheva

The paper presents issues associated with the introduction of effective educational technologies to distance learning a foreign language at the university. The review of the author’s use of Zoom technology in medical education is presented. The current problems of introduction of distance learning technologies in teaching English language to medical students are determined. The experience of distance learning for teaching medical students a foreign language by the electronic educational resource Zoom is described.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 755-766
Author(s):  
Nida Qayoom ◽  
Mohammad Saleem ◽  
Mozaffar Mansoor

Listening and speaking are active language skills and need special attention in English language pedagogy, especially in ESL/EFL contexts. English in India is taught as a second language in almost all the states, and the secondary education boards stipulate the teaching of all the four language skills as the objective of teaching English, yet the teaching and assessment system is only read-write intensive, and the active language skills, i.e., listening and speaking, are neglected in teaching as well as in assessment. The present paper is the result of a survey of the language teaching objectives, learning outcomes and assessment policies of two secondary education boards in India to investigate whether there exists any divergence between the stated objectives regarding teaching English language skills, and the testing pattern followed. The findings of the study suggest that there exists a divergence between the objectives stated by state level secondary education boards and their assessment patterns set for the English language. The study recommends that there should be a uniform standard of teaching and assessment of English in secondary schools in India, and there should be more research studies on the potential negative impact of the neglect of teaching and assessment of active language skills.


Author(s):  
Tetiana Kravchyna

Foreign languages e-learning has gained in a great importance because of growing interest in the Internet. It becomes a very popular method due to its accessibility, simplicity and availability, which contribute to improvement of spectrum and quality of distance learning in teaching English in higher educational establishments in pandemic conditions. Mechanism of education is a key process of human life, which determines the personality development. Fast pace of information technology development brings on displacement of traditional learning in higher education establishments with more modern methods including distance learning in teaching English. This article attempts to reflect the current trends in foreign language learning using distance technology. Currently, new technologies and the Internet allow the person to gain the necessary knowledge without leaving home, using a personal computer. This article considers the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning in teaching a foreign language compared to full-time and part-time education. The survey has confirmed that quality and structure of educational courses are usually much better with distance learning than with traditional training forms. Distance learning comprises all actual learning methods and suggests a large number of assignments designed for independent study, with the probability of obtaining day-to-day consultations. It uses the latest accomplishments of interactive and information technologies and gives equal educational opportunities to students regardless of health, place of residence, financial security and elitism. Besides, the disadvantages of this form of learning over other forms and the reasons why distance education may be ineffective are given and explained in the article (lack of face-to-face conversations, one-side explanation and lack of constructive skills). The student must also have certain psychological traits and technical means such as a computer and an access to the Internet. The conclusions made as a result of the comparison allow to determine the areas that need special attention, as well as to choose the most convenient tools for effective learning of foreign languages and English, in particular.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 158-165
Author(s):  
G. A. Yeroshenko ◽  
◽  
O. V. Klepets ◽  
N. O. Perederii ◽  
N. A. Ulanovska-Tsyba ◽  
...  

Nowadays, the attention of researchers is attracted by issues related to the study of the effectiveness of distance learning. And there is also an ongoing discussion about the disadvantages and advantages of the methods that are used in online training during quarantine. The purpose of the study was to conduct an anonymous survey of the 1st year students of the English-language form of study, in order to identify the objective attitude of students to distance learning during quarantine and to determine its advantages and disadvantages, taking into account the proposals from foreign students. Materials and methods. The study was carried out among the 1st year English-speaking students of the International Faculty about the online form of education, during quarantine, using the questionnaire "Distance learning during quarantine" developed by the psychologist T.M. Klimach. The questionnaire contained 10 questions that had one or more correct answers (at the request of the students). 50 students took part in the survey. Results and discussion. As a result of the study, it was established that the majority of students are aware of the seriousness of the epidemiological situation and the need for online learning. The most conscientious part of the respondents blamed themselves for the difficulties of distance learning, pointing out self-discipline and a serious attitude to learning as the basis for success. Among the advantages of distance learning, students noted an additional incentive and new opportunities for self-education and an increase in the time free from classes. And the disadvantages of the distance form are considered excessive workload and lack of personal contact with teachers. Among the proposals for improving the organization of distance learning, students focused on reducing the volume and complexity of tasks, increasing the teacher's explanations during classes, as well as using the algorithmization of educational material and the learning process. Conclusion. In a survey of foreign students, it was determined that the organization of distance learning at Poltava State Medical University received a positive assessment. Some students noted the support of teachers and saw new opportunities for themselves to acquire knowledge. Most respondents blamed self-discipline and a serious attitude to learning for the difficulties of distance learning


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-285
Author(s):  
Queen Ugochi Njemanze ◽  
Mark chitulu Ononiwu

The primary language skills; listening and speaking skills are interrelated and unique language activities embedded in communication.The basic need for humans to engage in communication involves having a comprehensive knowledge and command of the language skills; listeneing, speaking, reading and writing. The processes of listening and speaking form the major focus of attention in this research. It require the individuals involved to speak eloquently and listen attentively. It makes them think critically, react confidently and respond appropriately to a communication programme. This paper therfore aims at highlighting listening and speaking skills as language skills that promote proficiency in English language communicaiton. Thus study discovered that the combinations of these skills consolidates the meaning in syllabications, stress and intonation in a communication program and as well reduce the complexities of effective communication.


Author(s):  
Elena A. Bugreeva

The era of digitization and post-literacy has changed many aspects of our life. This paper investigates into edutainment and infotainment as an approach to the instructional design of an English course for university students or adult learners, including distance learning. Apart from a brief history of edutainment and infotainment, the research attempts to realize the nature of edutainment, specify the concept, and point out its advantages and disadvantages. The article describes some instruments of edutainment and infotainment that can improve e-learning English. The findings may be interesting for the faculty engaged in synchronous and asynchronous e-learning and instructional designers creating online courses.


Author(s):  
Oleh Topuzov ◽  
Oleksandr Malykhin ◽  
Nataliia Aristova

The proposed study is focused on solving research questions concerning a common understanding of methodology in teaching English for Specific Purposes and language teaching approaches application in instruction process. The novelty of the paper lies in the theoretical substantiation of the necessity to apply the combination of competence-based, action-oriented and blended-learning approaches in the ESP classroom for improving ESP students’ languages competence regarded in our study as desired learning outcomes. The research is theoretical in nature and comprises the theoretical review of scientific literature aimed at understanding how methodology is conceived by scientists and ESP practitioners. The theoretical review contains the analysis of scientific publications and methodological materials on teaching English for Specific Purposes at higher education institutions. The authors also analyze the most trusted language teaching approaches, principles they are based on, learning outcomes they are aimed at in the ESP classroom, the advantages and disadvantages of their use in instruction process. The analysis of the most trusted language teaching approaches makes it possible to declare that the combination of competence-based, action-oriented and blended-learning approaches plays a crucial role in providing ESP students with improved languages competence.


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