Procedure

The study was conducted in several stages:

One of the main requirements for specialists in deciding on their appointment to the international crew and ensuring the successful completion of all phases of preparation for space flight is the level of English language proficiency that will allow astronauts to actively and freely use English in their professional activities. At the same time, the survey and personal interviews with cosmonauts who are at the stages of General space training, training in the groups of specialization and improvement, as well as training in the crews (48 people, including 16 people-cosmonauts of the General space training stage; 24 people-cosmonauts who are at the stage of training in the group; 8 cosmonauts-members of international crews), showed that the question of why they need knowledge of English in the framework of professional activities,

38% of students answered - for the most effective communication with foreign colleagues and partners in the process of performing the tasks of training for the flight from Russian and international space agencies; 20% - for independent listening of lectures on modules, payloads, on-Board systems of the ISS American

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segment abroad, followed by passing the relevant tests/examinations in English; correct understanding of the information obtained in the course of radio communication with foreign ground services;

10% - for reading English-language specialized training manuals and flight technical documentation (flight radiograms, on-Board systems operating instructions) with the extraction of the necessary professionally relevant information from it, both in preparation for the flight and in the flight itself when working on the modules of the American segment ISS;

32% of respondents believe that they need English for everyday and professional interpersonal communication during joint work on Board the ISS (scientific space experiments, spacewalk, elimination of emergencies, interaction with foreign Mission Control Centers, etc.).

It should be noted that only 60% of students at the first stage of General space training have the desire to attend classroom classes in English, because, in their opinion, at this stage of training they need to pay more attention to particular disciplines. Meanwhile, all the cosmonauts studying at the II stage of training in the groups of specialization and improvement, as well as in the composition of international crews (stage III), are aware of the importance of the studied language, with 45% of respondents talking about the need to increase the number of hours allocated to this discipline.

As mentioned above, one of the features of professional training of cosmonauts is that throughout the entire training period, it is possible to immediately apply the obtained theoretical knowledge during practical exercises using various spacecraft simulators.

Regarding language training, the practical application of the acquired knowledge, skills and abilities is possible not only in English classes in simulated "professionally similar" situations of communication, but also in the process of performing different types of professional activities as part of multinational mixed crews, starting with the final stage I of space training, and at all subsequent stages:

Stage I:

- three-day training within an international crew: development of actions for "survival" in adverse climatic and geographical conditions in case of a non-standard (emergency) landing of the spacecraft lander into the off-design point;

- weekly "sea" training on "survival" of the international crew in case of "splashdown»; Stage II:

- the practice of work in MCC as the leading operator for communication with the ISS international crew members;

- work at NASA as a representative of the Russian cosmonaut corps; Stage III:

- daily training within an international crew;

- specialized training on the modules of ISS program partners on the basis of foreign space agencies.

Therefore, by the end of the first stage of space training, students should have a language base that will allow them to communicate personally and professionally in English with representatives of other languages and cultures.

Thus, based on the data obtained as a result of the analysis of professional activities of cosmonauts, we can conclude that for cosmonauts of the first stage of professional training for space flight are necessary:

- proficiency in English, both orally and in writing in the process of daily communication with foreign partners and colleagues;

- oral communication at the elementary level with astronauts when performing joint training on "survival" in different climatic and geographical conditions with the aim of issuing orders, assisting in the process of completing tasks and maintaining a favorable emotional and psychological atmosphere in the international team;

for cosmonauts of the second stage:

- the use of English in oral and written forms while abroad in the performance of their professional duties as a representative of the Russian cosmonaut corps;

- transfer of information in the process of conducting radio communications with foreign members of the ISS international crew and foreign specialists of ground flight control services in the performance of the functions of the main operator of the MCC;

for cosmonauts of the third stage:

- oral communication: professional communication with members of the international crew during ground

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training in Russia and abroad, during the implementation of the regular space flight program and in cases of emergencies on Board the ISS; possession of public speaking skills to participate in pre - and post-flight meetings and press conferences in Russia and abroad;

- transmission of information and a clear understanding of the instructions received in the process of conducting radio communications with ground flight control services when performing work inside the station and during spacewalks;

- reading technical flight documentation when performing repair and restoration works and joint scientific experiments in the modules of foreign partners;

- the ability to use diagrams and radiograms, to understand the messages that are displayed in English on the formats of control panels, on-Board computers and relate to the safety of the station and its operation. Following the designated requirements for knowledge of the English language and the specifics of professional training of cosmonauts, the program of the course "English for cosmonauts" in the CPC is carried out in three stages. At the stage of General space training, 300 hours of classroom training are given to the English language course. The purpose of this stage is the acquisition of knowledge and skills sufficient for: the implementation of everyday communication; establishing business contacts at the elementary level; the exchange of professionally relevant information with foreign partners during the implementation of joint work in Russia ("winter," "marine" survival training). Classes at this stage are held in small groups of 4 – 8 people.

324 classroom hours are allocated for English language training at the preparation stage in the groups of specialization and improvement. The purpose of this stage is to achieve the level of communicative competence sufficient for implementation of professional communication with project partners of the ISS while performing the functions of a representative of the Russian cosmonaut corps at NASA, including participation in international meetings of the partners in the ISS program on the modernization of the spacecraft and the station. The final requirement for proficiency in English at the preparatory stage of the crew (total duration - 234 hours) is the development of communicative competence.

Communicative competence is necessary for:

understanding of information received by ear from native and non-native speakers of English during technical training on the basis of foreign space agencies (USA, Germany, Japan), on systems and equipment of modules of foreign partners of the ISS project;

implementation of professional activities in space flight in various spheres and situations of business partnership (interaction with foreign members of the international crew in the performance of the regular spaceflight program;

conducting negotiations with specialists of foreign MCC, including in cases of emergencies on the American station side, and also in the performance of the duties of the commander of the entire ISS crew;

use of information support – flight technical documentation in English) (Mikheeva, & Dvoryadkina 2015: 63). The schedule of cosmonauts who are in the second and third stages of vocational training is structured in such a way that at each lesson in the English language, as a rule, no more than two cosmonauts are present at the same time.

We emphasize that at the first stage of training, the specialists do not provide language training "from scratch." This is explained by the fact that having a minimum knowledge of English is an indispensable prerequisite for participation in the process of selecting candidates for cosmonauts. In accordance with the requirements described in the "Provisional Regulation for an Open Competition for the Selection of Candidates for Cosmonauts", all applicants who have successfully passed the selection (including testing and oral interview in English), have higher education and, accordingly, University experience in FL studying, preferably English, and also have knowledge of "... English for an assessment not lower than" good "in accordance with the requirements of higher educational institutions of the Russian Federation..." (Provisional Regulation., 2012). However, it should be noted that during the testing and oral interview, during the selection of candidates for cosmonauts, the level of proficiency in spoken English is assessed, the knowledge of common vocabulary and grammar is checked. Testing skills English in the professional field in the selection is not expected. Achieving the required level of English proficiency in the training of astronauts requires continuous improvement of the quality of education, makes it necessary to search for new forms and techniques, introduce into the learning process modern interactive methods, computer tools and Internet technologies that contribute to the improvement of the educational process. Besides, the training of astronauts in English should be considered

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in close connection with the practice of intercultural communication.

Many leading researchers recognize that high-level knowledge of a foreign language is not a sufficient condition for active professional business and intercultural communication of specialists. We consider the point of view of N.D. Galskova and N.I. Gez said that “... the adequacy of mutual understanding of carriers of different linguistic cultures in the context of intercultural communication is determined by the degree of images’ coincidence of their consciousness ...” (Galskova, & Gez 2013: 71). Intercultural communication can be hampered by differences inherent in the culture of each nation and requires consideration of national traditions and norms of behavior.

In this regard, in the current conditions of the development of international integration processes in the field of space and the growing need for intercultural dialogue with foreign experts, representatives of various countries participating in the ISS program, in solving life and professional problems, the English language acquisition is interpreted from the standpoint of intercultural communication by cosmonauts. In turn, it poses the task of forming students' tolerant attitudes towards representatives of other cultures, “sociocultural politeness” in the process of teaching the astronauts to the English language in the context of a “dialogue of cultures.” Note that in the work of N.D. Galskova and N.I. Gez cites the meaning of the notion “dialogue of cultures,” which from modern psycholinguistics is interpreted as “... an exchange of cultural objects, implementation of activities, an exchange of images of consciousness associated with specific words ...” (Galskova & Gez 2013: 71).

Professional training of cosmonauts, along with exceptional technical training, involves the formation of students' ability to communicate effectively in English and interact with other members of international crews – representatives of different cultures – in specific extreme conditions of weightlessness on Board the spacecraft and the station for a long (more than five months) period of time. This circumstance requires the cosmonauts to know the traditions and norms of communication, etiquette, peculiarities, and rules of behavior of the native language people, which will allow the participants of the space flight belonging to different national cultures to adequately understand and perceive each other and will promote intercultural communication.

The term intercultural communication, for the leading researchers in Linguodidactics, describes the peculiarities of interaction and mutual understanding of people – participants of the communicative act belonging to different languages and cultures (Khaleeva 2000: 11; Vereshchagin, Kostomarov 1990: 29). It is evident that the cosmonaut, in order to participate in the international ISS project, study at training bases of various foreign space agencies, successfully interact with foreign astronauts in the framework of work activities, in addition to solving practical and technical issues, one has to deal with the peculiarities of national character and behavior. In this regard, the training of astronauts in English should be based on the formation of the ability for effective intercultural communication.

An analysis of the practice of performing space flights by international crews revealed many problems associated with the lack of familiarity of astronauts with the specifics of the communicative behavior of representatives of different cultures. The study showed that the lack of specific knowledge of cosmonauts necessary for effective intercultural communication on Board the ISS sometimes leads to difficulties in communication and interaction with foreign colleagues, disagreements and inconsistencies in the process of performing professional tasks, inability to comply with the norms and patterns of behavior in a foreign language environment. Thus, the trained specialists are given the task of studying the peculiarities and rules of behavior, standards of etiquette inherent in specific cultures, to adequately understand the interlocutors and increase the effectiveness of intercultural communication. Astronauts' training in the specifics of communicative behavior with representatives of other cultures should be an essential aspect of their training. It will assist to avoid possible communication errors in the process of joint professional activities in the preparation and implementation of a space flight under the ISS program within an international crew. In the process of the English-language training of astronauts, in our opinion, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the grammatical and lexical composition of the language but also to the basics of speech etiquette as one of the constituent components of the national culture. Also, the specifics of building a constructive dialogue in the process of professional, communicative interaction in an intercultural environment is essential. The fulfillment of this task is possible through modeling, in the process of learning, situations of intercultural communication characteristic of real professional activity. It means the creation of conditions for the interlocutors' relationships, involving the use of the English language to solve communicative tasks in the

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framework of professional activities and allow the development of professional and communicative skills of astronauts.

To date, the specificity of ELT to cosmonauts is associated with the actualization of international cooperation in the field of space activities, which entails the need for competent specialists who speak the language as a means of intercultural communication within their profession. Useful cross-cultural and professional discussion of cosmonauts studying under the orbital flight program is possible due to the presence of professionally oriented intercultural communicative competence in the sphere of their professional activities. 4. Results

The idea of developing a new modern model for teaching English to cosmonauts at the Gagarin cosmonaut training Center arose in the process of communication between cosmonauts and their foreign colleagues and partners during the preparation for space flight. We are talking about astronauts who are at the final stage of professional training when the activities of specialists involve the closest interaction and direct contact with astronauts, as well as foreign partners and instructors to perform their professional tasks.

The results of observations showed that in the course of joint training with the participation of astronauts, many astronauts experience significant difficulties in professional communication with colleagues in English. The inability to correctly formalize the statement according to the communicative task, as well as the uncertainty in the choice or ignorance of professional vocabulary in English leads to the use of a certain number of Russian words in speech. The fear of looking incompetent in the eyes of others makes the astronaut completely abandon independent communication in English with colleagues and solve communication problems through an interpreter. In the first case, the actions of the astronaut can distort the meaning of what was said, misunderstanding of instructions and wrong actions on the part of the astronaut. Secondly, such actions lead to an increase in the amount of time spent on solving a professional problem, which is unacceptable when working in unsafe conditions of space flight, where the time to perform almost every operation is limited.

For two years we have studied the specifics of cosmonaut training, the content of their professional activities, analyzed discursive situations typical for professional communication of specialists, goals and the required level of English.

By the research, a thematic program of the course and a model of English language teaching were developed, according to which the cosmonauts had to master the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for the implementation of English professional communication at each stage of training: the use of language material in speech, knowledge of professional vocabulary, correct understanding and creature of the text, interaction in the process of dialogue communication (the ability to express thoughts politely, the ability to ask and adequately respond to questions), the ability to formulate a requirement for interlocutor, the ability to find a way out of conflict situations and come to a consensus in the process of intercultural communication). Testing the effectiveness of the developed Electronic Teaching and Methodical Complex “English for Space Explorers. Cosmonauts Preparing for Space Flight” was conducted through a pilot training of astronauts on the basis of the Federal state budgetary institution "scientific research Institute of the cosmonaut training Center named after Yury Gagarin," in the framework of the training program for a long-term flight aboard the ISS.

Experimental training was conducted in astronaut groups studying English at the stage of general space training (hereinafter stage I), the training stage as part of the specialization and improvement groups (hereinafter stage II), and also at the preparatory stage as part of an international crew (hereinafter stage III) in the period from 2014-2016. At the time of the experiment, the Russian cosmonaut team consisted of 48 people, including 16 people – cosmonauts of stage I; 24 people – cosmonauts of stage II; 8 cosmonauts of stage III. 22 people took part in the experiment: 8 cosmonauts of the I stage, 8 cosmonauts of the II stage and 6 cosmonauts of the III stage of preparation. Training in experimental groups was conducted on the basis of the