Digital tools in foreign language teaching at the university

https://doi.org/10.26907/2658-3321.2022.5.2.257-269

Abstract

The conditions of the digital economy are making adjustments to all spheres of life of a modern person, including higher education. A modern graduate must have a certain set of digital competencies. The employer needs not just an English teacher, but a teacher with the skills of working on online platforms, creating online courses and language applications. The practical application of the digital tools presented in this study in a foreign language class at theuniversity will allow students to further implement them in their work practice. The main aim of the article is to study modern digital tools used in the practical course of foreign languages at the university. To reach the aim we gave the definitions of the notions “digital economy”, “digital tool”, disclosed the peculiarities of digital economy’s influence on higher education, enumerated the dogotal competencies of a modern teacher.

As an example the article presents the experience of organizing group project work with students on the topic “Higher education in the UK”. The project is organized in a remote format with student-student and student-teacher interaction. Work on the project includes practical work with a range of digital tools: programs for remote group interaction, services for analyzing and storing big data, programs for creating documents and presentations, online boards. The use of these tools makes classes interactive and increases student engagement and motivation. At the same time, the use of a number of technologies facilitates the work and saves the teacher's time during the presentation and control of the material.