Abstract:

The article deals with the issues related to the development of autonomy in vocationally-oriented language learning in university-level courses for translators in Russia. A particular emphasis is laid on the analysis of the approaches and methods used to facilitate the process with the help of MOODLE environment, and create conditions that encourage students to absorb the knowledge much better and faster, develop the required skills, get used to employing new strategies, innovative methods, creative tools and standards of learning.

The authors have done the research into innovative teaching techniques which include several successive stages. The course has been designed to select and organize the material in MOODLE environment, examine and measure its efficiency while training would-be translators of vocationally-oriented texts and developing their autonomy in a number of institutes of higher learning in Russia. Throughout the language course the learners are aimed at making a lot of independent decisions linked to their process of learning, developing and improving different sets of skills, becoming more motivated and focused on the idea of life-long learning. Upon completing the course the students are better prepared and better-equipped to apply the acquired approaches and principles of learning to other areas of study.

Keywords:

Autonomy, MOODLE environment, translators of vocationally-oriented texts, motivation, life-long learning.