Distance Education and Foreign Languages

This article is about language development of a foreign language (FL) teacher and is centred around the concept of teacher professional competence. Although the definition seems clear and indisputable, no publication has been traced that would clarify what a FL teacher language competence is. It immediately leads to diverse and sometimes contradictory views of content and language skills a FL teacher is supposed to demonstrate. I use this fact as a starting point and make an attempt to provide my view of a FL teacher language competence and essential elements that comprise it. My contention is that besides ‘general language’ and language awareness, a FL teacher should demonstrate skills in classroom and out-of-classroom communication. I support my view by coming out with a tentative and, at the moment, rather schematic description of FL teacher language competence. I consider this as the first step toward the definition of language teacher language competence to be followed by substantial empirical research which, hopefully, will contribute to a valid and more detailed description of the concept in question.

Introduction. For the effective organization of the educational process during distance learning of foreign languages in the conditions of a pandemic, special technical, psychological, and pedagogical retraining is required for the transition to distance learning for both teachers and students.Purpose setting. Thus, it is necessary to study the current state of distance learning in foreign languages, both in Russia and abroad, and analyze the prospects for the development of this form of education, taking into account factors that positively affect the acquisition of a foreign language. To date, a lot of attention is paid to distance learning, as, probably, none of the many ways of learning using technology. Modern research in education, and in particular in information and communication technologies, tends to use technological resources to the maximum and use them effectively in pedagogy. In the field of foreign language teaching, much has been done to cover various languages of the world, but attempts are constantly being made to find new solutions, taking into account the specific needs of language learners.Methodology and methods of the study. This article is based on our experience of creating and implementing distance English courses at the Siberian Institute of Management – a branch of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, which uses distance learning and provides academic programs both traditionally and remotely. The article presents the technological aspect of the distance learning system, common to all courses and discuss the main features of teaching a foreign language. The process of developing and implementing English language courses is considered from the point of view of the overall design of the course, the choice of teaching materials, technological and pedagogical processing of course materials, the role of the teacher, support and motivation of students, assessment of academic performance, evaluation of the course and key differences between the two methods of provision that need to be taken into account.Results. The article notes shortcomings and difficulties of a technological and pedagogical nature, as well as problems and new steps in improving English language courses.Conclusions. In conclusion, the complexity of the related technological, organizational and, no less importantly, pedagogical problems is emphasized, but we also hope to provide a reliable starting point for more ambitious projects related to distance learning and teaching foreign languages.

This study investigated foreign language (FL) teachers’ experiences of the virtual classroom during COVID-19 lockdown. The sample consisted of 405 FL teachers who participated in the survey which aimed to measure FL teachers’ perceptions of TPACK, virtual classroom activities, online self-efficacy, student engagement and encountered obstacles. The findings indicate that teachers working in remote areas practice fewer virtual classroom activities and thus perceive low student online engagement. The article discusses the differences between FL teachers regarding the FL they teach, i.e., differences in student online engagement exist between the FL taught, and differences in virtual classroom activities depend on the FL taught. In addition, school stage predicts FL teachers’ online self-efficacy and the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of TPACK and school size exists.

<p dir="ltr"><span>The relevance of this study stems from Russia’s war against Ukraine, along with the threat of the spread of COVID-19, necessitating an urgent transition to distance learning. This shift serves as a crucial measure to mitigate risks that endanger the lives and health of students. All face-to-face lessons (lectures, seminars, and laboratory work) are being moved to the virtual learning environment under these circumstances. Since the organisation of distance learning differs significantly from traditional face-to-face education, teachers must radically adapt the learning process, considering the neuropsychological and neuropedagogical aspects of learning foreign languages remotely. The article also explores the introduction of distance learning technologies for teaching foreign languages in educational institutions. It reviews the experiences of international researchers who use electronic educational resources, as well as discusses the current stance of Ukraine’s educational institutions on distance learning technologies in foreign language teaching. Finally, the article outlines the neuropsychological and neuropedagogical aspects of foreign language distance learning and examines the experience of organising blended learning for foreign languages based on e-learning resources. The conclusions of the article are intended for educators and curriculum developers.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div>

The incredibly rapid development of information technology and the pandemic, which began in 2019, led to the transition to distance learning and made the problem of modernizing of the education system relevant. Modernization in Ukraine is taking place, among other things, in the development of mobile learning, which, thanks to such a global phenomenon as the Internet, makes it possible to use it in higher education. The article is devoted to determining the features of the use of mobile learning in foreign language teaching. The advantages of using electronic mobile technologies in the educational process are indicated. Possibilities of application of mobile devices in the course of preparation of experts of various specialties are revealed. The aim of the study is to explore the possibility of using mobile learning technologies for students to learn different specialties of one of the basic language skills, namely listening. The objectives of the study are the analysis of modern forms, methods and means of teaching a foreign language using, their selection and experimental verification of the effectiveness of their use. The object of research is the process of teaching a foreign language to students of non-philological specialties. The analysis, generalization and systematization of research on the problem of learning a foreign language in higher education through multimedia tools, experimental implementation of multimedia technologies, including mobile learning, in the process of learning a foreign language for professional purposes. The results of the study will be summarized to write recommendations for the implementation of mobile foreign language learning for future professionals. It is pointed out that the motivation of students to learn a foreign language in distance learning increases significantly due to the individualization of learning, which takes place with the help of mobile technologies. It has been established that mobile technologies can be recognized as the main means of learning that allow students to use them as a means of accessing educational materials contained on the Internet, anytime and anywhere. Key words: foreign language, learning technologies, mobile learning, podcasts, listening

The rapid development of technology from day to day has manifested itself also in the field of education, and therefore it has become compulsory to include new regulations in education. In this fast-paced development, technology is coming into prominence both in distance education and traditional education. In this context, the technological organization established has an important role in the emergence of success perception. Since computer has begun to be used in the field of education, in addition to traditional education, the distance education has become in a more effective and productive education for foreign language learners. In this study, the distance learning, traditional education, teaching environments and perception of organizing as academic achievement are explained. The study has been carried out in a private university in the academic year of 2016-2017. The aim of this study is to evaluate the perception of success between distance education and traditional education in the foreign language education. This study examined the perceptions of administrators, lecturers and students towards the distance learning and traditional learning in order to evaluate the academic success of organizing in foreign language learning. The qualitative data analysis was used in this study. Administrators and students reported that they were prepared to facilitate individual study and improve their work skills with distance learning in the foreign language learning, but that the lecturers were not in the same position with the administrators and students in distance education.

The purpose of this article is to present an invariant of the basic model of the emotionally-valuable component (EVC) of the content of school foreign language (FL) education for its second stage (forms 5-7). Methods of theoretical analysis (systemic-structural, organizational, functional, comparative, typological) as well as designing and modelling were used. The basic model of the EVC of the content of school FL education is presented. Then it is adapted to the conditions of teaching FL at the middle stage of a comprehensive school. It allows to implement the EVC of the content of FL education at this stage and make another step in a pupil’s formation as a multicultural linguistic personality.

The present study discusses the concepts of education and training, while also highlighting the paradigm wars of the positivistic and naturalistic views, beginning with the age of ancient philosophies and continuing to the latest era of postmodernism. Additionally, language education is examined considering the linguistic and educational fundamentals which all need to be based on and combined by a philosophy. The research in foreign language (FL) education is evaluated from both the teaching and learning perspectives in order to reach conclusions concerning the current situation and the requisites of futuristic and innovative FL education. What is my educational philosophy? is proposed as a key question that not only FL teachers but also all educators should ask themselves; a question that will guide teachers throughout their entire lives and illuminate their minds throughout their teaching practice. Teacher and learner roles are discussed in order to determine whether teachers or learners should come first in the process of education. It is emphasised that the philosophical perspectives of education urgently need to be built into the minds of educators prior to asking them to convey knowledge of any kind or to apply the materials of a specific teaching method. The study concludes with the observation that there exists a serious discrepancy between the needs, preferences and interests of the learners and the views held by educational decision makers, who seem to fail to catch up with the trends in technology and globalisation.

The relevance of the problem under study is determined by the transition to active methods in the foreign languages teaching which is observed in recent years. These methods also include the educational discussion which is a subject of this research. The purpose of the article is to identify the educational potential of the educational discussion as one of the methods of formation and development of the unprepared speech skills and an effective means of the communicative competence formation in the foreign languages teaching. Based on the analysis of different approaches to the problem of teaching the unprepared foreign language speech, as well as the results of practical work, the authors of the article identify such features as spontaneity, naturalness and motivation. Authors come to the conclusion that the objective features of this type of speech activity being the properties of the educational discussion must be taken into account in the organization of the educational process aimed at the development of the free conversation skills in a foreign language. The need for the material selection and structuring for the organization of the educational discussion in accordance with its linguistic and cultural value is highlighted in the article. It also includes the tasks which are recommended for students to perform at the preparation stage of the discussion in order to overcome language and speech difficulties and the types of the educational discussions used in foreign language teaching are defined. In general according to the results of research such method of teaching as educational discussion is effective for the formation and development of unprepared speech skills in a foreign language. The article may be useful for the teachers of a foreign language working at secondary schools and in higher educational institutions, also for students, graduate and postgraduate students who are engaged in studying and research of the problems of the foreign languages teaching.

Active teaching methods are widely used in the pedagogically organized cognitive process in various educational disciplines. This article aims to analyze how active techniques can be integrated and effectively used in the educational process in a foreign language in the conditions of distance education at a higher educational institution of Qazaqstan. The study is of a qualitative nature of the documents analysis (lesson workshops) in professionally-oriented English, collaborated on the Moodle LMS for adult students-translators who studied in the information and communication environment (remotely) in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years. The article describes and explores some possible techniques for the active work of students studying in the university system using distance educational technologies (DET), modern methods for enhancing the educational activities of distance students in learning a foreign language, such as Kolba Method, discussions, criteria table for discussions, intelligence maps. This paper demonstrates the fundamental possibilities of teaching foreign languages remotely in an active form, allowing one to effectively learn a foreign language, to develop professional and intercultural-communicative competencies. The practical significance of the article lies in the idea of teachers using active teaching methods in preparing classes in a foreign language for distance students. Considering the complexity of organizing distance learning in foreign languages, which requires the active participation of students, we hope that this article will contribute to the development of distance technologies for the purpose of teaching foreign languages and will be useful to teachers working in the distance education field to develop high-quality and effective teaching materials and electronic courses in order to optimize and improve the competencies of students. Key words: Active methods, distance teaching & learning, e-learning course, foreign language (FL)

Reflecting the increased importance of early English foreign language education globally, Austrian primary English as a foreign language (EFL) education has recently been substantially reformed, ‘upgrading’ EFL classes to a mandatory graded subject. With the backdrop of these imminent curricular changes, this study examined the perspectives of 27 Austrian primary school teachers from all provinces across different career phases concerning their educational and curricular needs and prerequisites in terms of teacher education and curricular provisions. By using semi-structured interviews, data was collected and critically examined through qualitative content analysis. This revealed that primary school teachers value foreign language (FL) focused training at tertiary level, yet they wish for more instruction, particularly regarding their own language skills, but also in terms of teaching methodology. Moreover, the majority of practitioners did not feel adequately prepared to assess primary learners’ FL skills and seemed generally sceptical towards formal assessment at primary school level, fearing that especially summative assessment would be detrimental to the students’ FL development. While the context of this study might be unique, these results can be compared to a wider international context, considering that many school systems introduce FL instruction more intensively and with increasing educational standardization. Finally, the results of this study also offer insights into how teacher education might need to adjust.

In the past decades, neoliberalism has permeated (foreign) language education, as has been discussed by critical research in the fields of: curriculum theory, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, language policy, language assessment, to name a few. Despite the fact that research on foreign language education and neoliberalism is certainly growing, less attention has been paid to actual “ways out” or alternatives to neoliberal foreign language education. This introductory paper delineates the domain and scope of the present Special Issue entitled “Alternatives to Neoliberal Foreign Language Education.” The paper critically discusses three discourses/processes that are key to understanding the effects of neoliberalism in language education worldwide: language as skill, standardization and profit, and devaluing education. Then, it moves to briefly introduce each of the four remaining papers, which critically discuss alternatives to neoliberal foreign language education in different countries. The full issue hopes to contribute to critical research in the field of foreign language education and neoliberalism but, more importantly, to the search for feasible alternatives that help us move from negative critique of the current situation of foreign language education to actual praxis with a view to transforming it.

In the early 90's education started being affected by the introduction of word processors in schools, colleges and universities.This mainly had to do with written assignments.The development of the Internet brought about a revolution in the teachers' perspective, as the teaching tools offered through the Internet were gradually becoming more reliable.Nowadays, the Internet is gaining immense popularity in foreign language teaching and more educators and learners are embracing it.Undoubtedly, ICT has impacted on the quality and quantity of teaching, learning, and research in traditional and distance education institutions.In concrete terms, ICT can enhance teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, and engaging content; and it can provide real opportunities for individualized instruction.Teaching students effectively is a high educational goal throughout the world.In modern world the classroom environment has changed a lot than the previous years for improvement of technology day by day.As there are large number of population in the competitive world, becoming proficient in a new language is a difficult and challenging situation for the learners.ge learner (ESL) need to develop their language through reading, writing, listening and speakingThis situation is sometimes frustrating and tendering in the context of Bangladesh if language learning successfully is not possible.English as a second language.Today technological infrastructure of the universities throughout the world has developed a lot.Innovative tools for language learning have been developed for computer assisted instruction.So for developing language skills computer can play an essential part in providing ESL students with valuable language support as they learn a new language spontaneously.Promoted by the educational policy over the past two decades, the technological infrastructure in most universities throughout the world has advanced.Innovative tools of technology for language learning have been developed for computer assisted instruction This article focus on how computer assisted instruction (CAI) can be a supplement al teaching tool for teaching English language learners in tertiary level in Bangladesh .Moreover there is a discussion of the benefits and suggestions for professional development to encourage the professional development in English language development program that have found using CAI with EFL is also analyzed elaborately.In this research project, I reviewed the relevant literature as a means to examine how technology affects second/foreign language education and how it can be used effectively in the secondary EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom in Bangladesh.According to the findings of the previous literature, technology integration in second/foreign language education has mostly generated improvement in students' language skills and increased student interests in learning activities.Those types of technology proved to be useful strategies for Bangladesh EFL teachers in informing them how technology can help enhance language learning in the tertiary level.

In the last decade renewed interest has been focused on modern foreign language programs in American schools.' Statistics show a phenomenal growth in the teaching of foreign languages at the elementary level. In 1952 only eighty-nine communities had some foreign language teaching in the public elementary schools as compared with 2,443 in 1959-1960.2 Texas has strong ties with the Spanishspeaking world, both culturally and geographically. In many areas of the state large segments of the population are Spanish-speaking. Breunig's survey in 19591960 showed that Spanish is the only language taught to any appreciable extent in the public elementary schools of Texas.: Yet this same survey lists Spanish programs in only 136 schools, kindergarten through grade six.4 In view of the continuing emphasis being placed on the teaching of foreign languages at the elementary level, there seems to be a need for reevaluation of the foreign language programs in Texas elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of the teaching of modern foreign languages in selected public elementary schools of Texas during the school year, 1962-1963. The sampling consisted of the 282 public school systems whose high school or high schools are members of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It was on the assumption that the systems accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools represent quality of program at all levels, that these systems were chosen to comprise the sampling of this study. Post cards with attached reply cards were sent to the superintendents of these systems to determine if a modern foreign language is taught in their elementary and secondary schools. A return of 254, or 90.1 per cent, was received. Questionnaires were sent to the sixtythree systems which reported FLES programs. The questionnaire was composed of thirty-two closed-end and three open-end items and dealt with the following topics: (1) the scope of the FLES program; (2) the qualifications of persons presenting instruction; (3) methods, techniques, aids, testing procedures, and special features of the program; and (4) evaluation of the program by the reporter. Useable replies were received from fifty-four, or 85.7 per cent, of the systems. The data were analyzed primarily according to the total number of responses. Where size of school system was found to be a significant factor, the data were cate-

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education marks a significant transformation in pedagogical practices, particularly in higher education. In many European countries, such as Germany, Estonia, Finland, and Ukraine, this transformation is accelerating as education systems increasingly adopt AI technologies that replicate human cognitive processes like problem-solving and decision-making. They provide unprecedented opportunities for personalizing language learning based on individual student needs. This study explores current trends, pedagogical models, and empirical findings related to the implementation of AI in EFL classrooms, with particular attention to its impact on the development of language skills, learner autonomy, and affective factors such as motivation and engagement. Within the European context, these issues are especially relevant due to the widespread status of English as a foreign language and the strategic emphasis on digital innovation in national education systems. Drawing on both international and Ukrainian research, the study examines the application of widely used AI tools, such as chatbots, writing assistants, translation platforms, and intelligent tutoring systems, in language teaching. Empirical evidence, including findings from European-based studies, indicates significant improvements in students’ receptive (reading, listening) and productive (speaking, writing) language skills, lexical acquisition, and intercultural competence. Furthermore, AI enhances the affective dimension of learning by boosting motivation, promoting engagement, and alleviating foreign language anxiety through personalized, adaptive feedback and autonomous learning pathways. Despite these benefits, the integration of AI into EFL education is characterized by some challenges, including students’ over-reliance on technology, insufficient digital literacy among users, ethical concerns regarding data privacy, and a lack of comprehensive pedagogical frameworks. The study emphasizes the need for pre-service teacher training programs that effectively incorporate AI competencies. Overall, the study results indicate a positive impact of integrating AI into the teaching of English as a foreign language in European counties (including Ukraine), demonstrating how technological innovations can complement traditional pedagogical approaches to support accessible, effective, and learner-centered foreign language education in the digital era.