Abstract:

The paper suggests an insight into the peculiarities of supervising the research work of intending translators, interpreters and English teachers. The authors share their empiric experience in involving students into research on Linguistics and Language Teaching Methods and present their understanding of the role of this process in professional linguists’ training.

The research data presented, discussed and analyzed in the article, were accumulated via traditional research methods of observation, product analysis and survey among students. The main conclusion the authors come to is the fact that introducing students into research work gives many opportunities not only for enriching the academic knowledge, improving skills of translating and teaching, but also for developing a many-sided personality, cultural experience, abilities to regard the language items and process of translating and teaching as a research subject, comparing researchers’ points of view and express their own opinions based on facts. Besides, the students’ research work promotes to the skills of autonomous study, developing initiative and independent learning, which presupposes reading various textbooks, papers and monographs, alongside referring to encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Preparing slideshows for conference reports and presentations of the investigation results gives opportunities to develop public speaking skills and creativity. The latter lets students carry out unique projects, develop intellectually, emotionally and verbally, as the most valuable result of this work is something created personally by them, the new knowledge gained through experimenting. Working with language and textual materials help students apply the following professional knowledge and skills in practice: working with lexicographic resources and compiling glossaries, finding stylistic devices in the text and analyzing their usage, making the analysis of translation difficulties, etc.

The conclusions made by the authors are based also on the results of the students’ opinion survey, in which they were asked about the challenges they face, the support they need and the experience they receive in the process of writing a research work. The authors present their findings on the specifics of supervising Bachelor students, as there are evident differences in approaches, studied materials and chosen methods of research conducted by students of these stages of professional university education. The practical value of the paper is in an effort to improve the process of research supervision in terms of selecting themes, materials and to adapt it to meet the professional interests and needs of students.

Keywords:

Student, Master Degree, research work, supervision, Linguistics, Language Teaching Methods.