POSSIBILITIES OF USING DISTANCE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGIES IN TEACHING GERMAN TO STUDENTS OF TECHNICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The article deals with the concept of “distance learning”, its features, advantages and disadvantages. The expediency of introducing distance education technologies into the process of teaching a foreign language is substantiated. The prospects of using distance-learning technologies in the educational process of the technical science university are revealed. The role of a teacher in distance learning is studied: in addition to traditional ones, the teacher fulfills the functions of coordinating the cognitive process, adjusting the course, advising students in the process of organizing an individual curriculum, managing their educational projects, etc. The didactic possibilities of distance learning courses in teaching a foreign language are determined. The author draws attention to the fact that along with many advantages, distance learning places certain restrictions on the educational process. It is emphasized that it is important for a teacher to have direct contact with stu- dents for successful monitoring, timely correction and adequate assessment of the educational process. The author presents her own experience in implementing distance-learning technologies in teaching Ger- man on example of introduction of the distance-learning course “Practicum in German”. The interactivity, flex- ibility, application of hypertext technologies, accessibility, and wide opportunities for assessment and control of knowledge are identified by the author as the features of the course. The main components of the course are module-lessons consisting of information and training forums, educational presentations, interactive exercises (audio and video materials), tasks, tests, and links to the Internet sources. The author emphasizes that as a result of implementing the distance learning course in question they noted positive results such as higher indi- vidualization of training, optimization of learning material study, increasing the possibility of using authentic materials and the level of foreign-language communicative competence of students.