THE SWEDISH EXPERIENCE OF DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ ORAL PROFICIENCY IN VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED ENGLISH

Abstract

The article surveys Sweden‘s experience in developing pupils‘ oral proficiency in the process of vocational training. The didactic and psycholinguistic principles of the communicative approach lie in the basis of methodology of vocational foreign language learning (equal development of pupils‘ skills in all kinds of communication: listening, reading, writing and speaking, thematic and situational organization of the study process). The content of communicative competence and oral proficiency as its constituent is defined. National syllabi for foreign languages are composed on the principles of the communicative approach, The Common European Framework of Reference for languages: teaching, learning and assessment, with priority of English. Foreign language teaching comprises 7 stages, which provide detailed goal description and expected results. The priority of English in the content of education results in achieving a much higher level of communicative competence and oral proficiency of vocational pupils when compared with other foreign languages. The stress is put on the practical English language use for professional activity and further education. Various forms, methods and approaches to the development of pupils‘ oral proficiency in English and other foreign languages are applied. Amongst them joint projects, discussions, presentations, problem-based learning, teaching vocational subjects by means of English (content-and language integrated learning). This method promotes pupils‘ motivation to learning English and productive ways of communicative activity, developing oral proficiency.

The ways of certain improvements in the system of vocational language learning of Ukraine are defined: implementation of teaching vocational subject content through the medium of English; optimization of teachers‘ training; creating artificial close to natural English language environment through translation of English films and programs in the original.