Modern technology and the competence approach in teaching Еnglish as a second language

Abstract

The article focuses on the ways of intensification of educational activity of students, increasing the level of their motivation to learn a foreign language using the competence approach. The authors describe the results of a survey on the use of modern technology in the classroom - electronic dictionaries, various apps and sites on this topic. These technical means as one of the elements of the communicative competence not only provide opportunities for effective acquisition of the material to be studied, but also have a strong emotional impact on students, serve as an incentive for creating additional motivation in further learning, and creative activities. The skills of using this kind of technology are developed by students in the process of learning a foreign language, motivating students to independent creative work and problem solving. Through interaction, students can increase their vocabulary in the process of reading or listening to authentic materials, talking and discussing information with other students, as well as working on group assignments. In order to use technical means effectively, while preparing for classes it is necessary to make sure that the content of these technical means corresponds to the level of students and to the content of the materials they use to study. In general, the approach to learning a foreign language discussed in the article produces a cumulative effect. In its turn the effect gained is expressed in the accumulation of communicative competence, ability to cooperate, the ability to search for a way of solving problems, tolerance etc.