FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE CONTEXT OF IMPLEMENTING THE CONCEPT OF LIFELONG EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article discusses the role of a foreign language in the context of the realisation of the concept of lifelong education in Ukraine. The authors emphasize the importance of learning English as a foreign language which provides the opportunity for academic mobility, successful employment, competitiveness in the labour market and self-actualisation in any professional field, which in the long run will have a positive impact on social and economic development of the country. Nowadays a foreign language, English in particular, is considered not only as a discipline, but also a means of intercultural communication, an important tool of personal interaction in all spheres of human life. Therefore, learning English becomes an important component of lifelong education. According to the authors, the effectiveness of lifelong education depends on a number of factors, namely the compliance of knowledge and skills with professional and personal needs, the degree of active involvement of students in learning, productive feedback of participants in the educational process, implementation of the principle of continuity in education, sustained motivation, academic achievements. Since the leading role in the implementation of the concept of lifelong education belongs to the state, the authors consider it necessary to create the following conditions: to encourage foreign language training at all levels of the education system and provide favourable environment for learning a foreign language; to improve the regulatory framework for lifelong education; to ensure the continuity of educational standards and programmes; to involve employers, international organizations and other stakeholders in the process of training, including the development of curricula, standards, assessment of quality of education; to provide flexible, variable, student-centred programmes and their compliance with current labour market needs; to create new forms of organisation of educational activity; to introduce effective multifunctional distance learning platforms widely; to support foreign language training courses for employed and unemployed population; to integrate international teaching experience, modern pedagogical technologies; to enhance teacher training and professional development.