Development of Electronic Teaching and Methodical Complex for Professional English Language Training of Russian Cosmonauts
5. Discussion and Conclusion
The development and strengthening of international cooperation in the field of space research leads to the emergence of such new activities carried out by astronauts in the process of preparing and implementing a flight, such as: official meetings and negotiations with foreign partners and colleagues in the framework of the ISS project; participation in interviews with representatives of foreign media, as well as in pre-and post-flight press conferences; work with on-board documentation and study of educational materials in English during the preparation and implementation of space flight; acting as a representative of the Russian cosmonaut corps in the United States; specialized training abroad in preparation for space flight on the basis of the space agencies of the countries participating in the ISS project; interaction with foreign members of international crews (astronauts), as well as ground specialists from foreign mission control centers. All of the above factors necessitated the study and active use of English by astronauts during their professional training and in-flight activities.
One of the main requirements for specialists when deciding on their appointment as an international crew and ensuring the successful completion of all stages of preparation for a space flight is the level of English language that will allow astronauts to actively and freely use English in their professional field.
In the process of English-language training of cosmonauts, it is necessary to pay attention to the strategies of professional communicative interaction in the intercultural environment; building a constructive dialogue with representatives of different cultures; the basics of speech etiquette. This task is possible through modeling in the process of training professionally significant situations of intercultural communication, i.e. the use of English in natural situations for professional activities of cosmonauts (Dvoryadkina 2016).
The development of intercultural communication skills in the professional activities of cosmonauts involves the formation of professionally oriented intercultural communicative competence, implying the ability to use English within the topics relevant in everyday life and professional practice of specialists.
To accomplish this task, the author developed the Electronic Teaching and Methodical Complex on the Moodle educational platform with the purpose of teaching English at the Cosmonaut Training Center as part of the professional flight training program for space flight using modern Internet technologies and interactive forms of education. The author's ETMC for teaching cosmonauts to the English language is characterized, first of all, by systemic structure, focus on actual practice and solution of problem situations related to the professional activity of listeners.
The method of projects is considered as an interactive method used by the author in the development of a set of training tasks for conducting English-language training for astronauts. The training model developed by the author and the electronic educational and methodical complex created on its basis is an interactive, communicatively oriented and professionally oriented system of learning tasks that allow cosmonauts to use the English language in their professional activities at a qualitatively new level.
Study of the formation of professionally oriented intercultural communicative competence among cosmonauts studying at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center on the program to prepare for the flight on board the International Space Station as part of an international crew led the author to the following conclusions: 1. The formation of professionally oriented intercultural communicative competence of cosmonauts contributes to the development of readiness of students for effective cross-cultural professional interaction through English in a multicultural environment of international crews.
2. The methodological basis for teaching astronauts English at the training center is the competence approach, which allows taking into account the professional needs and orientation of the language learning process, as well as the psychological characteristics of adult learners.
Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods ISSN: 2251-6204
Vol. 9, Issue 1, January2019
Page 121
3. The implementation of the project method in the process of language training of cosmonauts makes it possible to simulate "professionally similar" situations in the field of cosmonautics and contributes to the formation of skills to build strategies for the interaction of specialists in real professional intercultural communication through the English language.
4. The use of electronic educational and methodical complex implemented with the help of modern computer tools and Internet technologies for practical classroom training with astronauts in the English language expands the possibility of presenting foreign language teaching material. It promotes the combination of individual and group training, provides the opportunity of multiple tasks in purposes of “working out” and mastering the material, allows remote feedback from the teacher and increases the interest of specialists in the discipline.
5. The proposed model of cosmonauts’ training to professionally-oriented English language and developed on its basis the author's Electronic Teaching Methodical Complex contribute to better on the performance of language training of the astronauts. They enhance the communicative motivation of specialists, willingness and readiness to use their knowledge and skills more willingly for professional communication in the preparation and execution of space flight.
In our opinion, use of the developed complex contributes towards the increase of cosmonauts’ English language training quality by providing immediate feedback from the teacher, expanding the possibilities of presenting information by integrating authentic visual texts, audio, and video materials into the learning process, ensuring on-time updating of the educational resources.
The efficiency of the electronic teaching and methodical complex has been proven during teaching activities with cosmonauts in Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The data obtained from the results of experimental training indicates that the use of the complex provides the increase of profession-oriented vocabulary in cosmonauts’ speech and the ability to build partnership and dialogical relations when solving communicative tasks.
References
Barvenko, O.G. (2004). Psychological barriers in teaching the foreign language to adults. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Dvoryadkina N.A. (2016) Profession-oriented English language training for cosmonauts based on project activities. Bulletin of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Russian and foreign languages. Methods of its teaching,1, 78-87.
Dymova, E.E. (2011). Project activity in formation of professionally oriented foreign language communicative competence of students in the direction "advertising and public relations". (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Galskova N. & Gez N. (2013) Theory of teaching foreign languages. Linguodidactics and methodology. Moscow, Academy.
Garaeva, M. V. (2006) Intercultural competence formation of profile specialists in modern Russian higher. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https:// http://www.dslib.net/.
Gordienko, E. A. (2015) Formation of readiness for professionally-oriented foreign language communication of
the future specialists of customs at the University. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Guseva, L. V. (2016). Professionally oriented situations of foreign language communication as a means of development of intercultural competence of bachelors. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from
http://www.dslib.net/.
Kabanov, A.M. (2009). Electronic textbook as a means of improving the quality of foreign language teaching at
the technical University. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/. Kabardov, M. K. (1989). Language and communication skills. Abilities and inclination, 103 – 104.
Khaleeva, I. I. (2000). About gender approaches to the theory of teaching languages and cultures // News of the
Russian Academy of Education, 1, 11.
Kobylskaya, I. I. (2008). Project methodology of teaching English for engineering students based on electronic
Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods ISSN: 2251-6204
Vol. 9, Issue 1, January2019
Page 122
teaching and methodical complex. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Marinicheva, A.V. (2003) Intercultural communicative and professional competence as a factor of training of qualified specialists. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Mikheeva N., & Dvoryadkina N. (2015). Professionally oriented English language training of Russian cosmonauts in preparation for the flight on Board the International space station. Vestnik RUDN, 2, 61 -67. Minakova, L. Yu. (2013). Teaching foreign language discourse to students of natural specialties using professionally oriented projects (English, non-linguistic higher institution). (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Mironova, I. A. (2008). Formation of intercultural competence of students in the process of teaching foreign language communication. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https:// http://www.dslib.net/.
Provisional Regulation for an Open Competition for the Selection of Candidates for Cosmonauts. Retrieved from
http://www.fkr02.ru/main/main11.html.
Pushkina, A. V. (2015). Training of consecutive interpreting translation the linguists in the framework of the "Second higher education". (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Rymanova I.E. (2013) Use of Environment Moodle for Professional Foreign Language Teaching Technical Higher Education Establishment Students. Gramota Publishing House, 11(29), (pp. 164–167). [Electronic Resource] www.gramota.net/materials/2/2013/11-2/44.html.
Salnaya, L. K. (2007). Model of teaching professionally oriented communication the students of non-linguistic University. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Shcherbakov, M. V. (1997) Pedagogical techniques of cosmonaut-operator training as a basis of certification of his/her professional activity. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https:// http://www.dslib.net/. Solovyova, O. B. (2011) Training in oral professionally oriented communication of students of marine engineering specialties. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https:// http://www.dslib.net/. Usvyat, N. D. (2008) Formation of professionally oriented foreign language intercultural communicative competence of students of economic specialties in higher institutions. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Vasiliev, V. V. (2009). New information technologies in the system of cosmonaut training. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Vereshchagin E. M., Kostomarov V. G. (1990) Language and culture: Linguistic and cultural studies and teaching Russian as a foreign language. Moscow, Russkij yazyk.
Vershlovskij, S. G. (2013). The System of adult education as an object of forecasting // CiO. 2006. No. 8-9. / [Electronic resource.]
URL: http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sistema-obrazovaniya-vzroslyh-kak- obektprognozirovaniya. Vorobyov, K. S. (1999). Cosmonauts’ training to solve professional problems in non-standard situations. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Zmeev, S. I. (2000). Formation of andragogy: development of theory and technology of adult education. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.dslib.net/.
Zorin, A.V. (1995). New information technologies in the system of professional training of cosmonauts. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https:// http://www.dslib.net/.