CURRENT APPROACHES TO TEACHING SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

In the process of globalization and European integration different cultures more and more often meet face to face and the language is one of crucial means of mediation. Effective communication between representatives of different cultures can overcome language and cultural barriers. The terminology, various terms and definitions have to be unambiguously understood in all EU member countries. The mobility and cooperation between universities lead to strengthening and deepening intercultural relations.
Students are more and more in contact with foreign environment and the need of professional foreign language teaching at universities is undeniable. It is very complicated to estimate how future graduates use the language in their professional and personal life. Therefore they should be prepared not only search for printed information but also to summarise, participate in professional discussions, make presentations of their work, handle their branch in a foreign language, ask questions, argue and manage persuading while working in business.
The aim of teaching should consist in making a classroom communication as close as possible to real life communication. Possibility to study some special subjects in a foreign language is the best practice for students. They can expand their vocabulary, verify whether they understand the specific problem in a foreign language and are able to explain it later on to others and see that former theoretical language knowledge is applicable.
Therefore, the students at the University of Defence are offered to study mathematics and physics in the English language; currently studying other specialised subjects in a foreign language is being prepared. Every student is given a chance to study in a foreign language; in fact, unfortunately, the chance is taken only by hardworking, ambitious students who are highly motivated and willing to be better prepared for their future careers, e.g., being able to participate in foreign missions, etc. These are students who are well aware that success in the future means professional qualification + language skills. Studying math and physics in English offers rise in number of lessons when spoken language is practised: they have to understand a spoken language and at the same time they have to discuss problems, comment calculations and explain issues of the subject using a foreign language. They practice, expand and improve vocabulary and gradually gain more self-confidence and self-esteem. Most of them lose the initial inhibitions and shyness and gradually it becomes quite obvious that a student at the blackboard gives comments on the calculation procedure of a particular arithmetical problem and he finally gives reasons and justifies his solution. Other students raise questions in case they are not able to understand the problem thoroughly. Furthermore, due to the low number of students in seminars, approx. 12, they get the floor very often.
The aim of the paper is to share experiences from the teaching process in above described groups and moreover about teaching materials that were prepared specifically for these courses.