Abstract:

The article analyzes the effectiveness of the use оf modern multimedia technology for mastering foreign communication.

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the effectiveness of mastering foreign language communication by university students when using multimedia technology in the process of learning foreign language.

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that today the development and implementation of computer technology into the educational process is an important condition for improving the efficiency of teaching at university.

In the process of the research the following methods were used: pedagogical experiment, pedagogical observation, testing, quantitative method, statistical method, questioning.

The study includes an experiment on the use of the multimedia reference book-simulator “Professor Higgins”, the electronic textbook “English in the service sector”, the electronic educational recourse “Land engineering and water management”. The experiment showed that the results in all aspects of the language (vocabulary, grammar, phonetics) and types of speech activity (reading, speaking, listening, writing) are higher in a group where multimedia technology was used (as compared with a traditional group).

The experiment on the use of the multimedia reference book-simulator “Professor Higgins” indicated excellent results in the aspects “Grammar” and “Phonetics”. The program is highly effective for developing grammar and pronunciation skills through grammar interactive exercises; audio training of sounds, words, phrases; phonetic exercises containing proverbs and sayings. The language aspect “Vocabulary” is well developed through general dictionary and a dictionary of homonyms. The task “Dictation” trains “Listening” and “Writing” skills. In addition, good results in the aspect “Reading” are due to the use of thematic dialogs, poems and stories.

The use of the electronic textbook “English in the service sector” allows to achieve high results in the language aspect “Vocabulary” through the application of the English-Russian and Russian-English thematic phrasebook, reading dialogues with the translation and background information on certain aspects of the activities of hotel and restaurant employees. The aspect “Grammar” is well developed through grammar guide, exercises, tests. Textual material trains the language aspect “Reading”. Excellent results in “Speaking” are achieved doing communication exercises, making projects and discussion tasks. Such activities as “Listening” (sound dialogue support; authentic video films) and “Writing” (writing tasks, involving presentations) are well trained.

The experiment on the use of the electronic educational recourse “Land engineering and water management” indicated excellent results in the language aspect “Vocabulary” that are achieved through the use of a glossary, performing interactive lexical exercises, testing in the Hot Potatoes program. Professionally-oriented authentic texts with a glossary develop the aspect “Reading”. The speech activities as “Speaking” and “Listening” are trained through the chat “Explore the topic with friends”, presentations, thematic videos with testing and discussion. The speech activity “Writing” is developed in writing tasks involving preparation of presentations.

The use of multimedia technology increases the effectiveness of teaching a foreign language contributing to the mastery of foreign communication.

Keywords:

Education, student, training, foreign language, foreign communication, multimedia technology, e-learning program, multimedia reference book-simulator, electronic textbook, electronic educational resource.