The Role of Digital Technologies in Building Foreign Language Competencies of Future Specialists

Keywords: Digital technologies, foreign language learning, competence building, higher education, foreign language

Abstract

Teaching and learning in the higher education environment are being fundamentally transformed by digital technologies, and the pace of technological change is aggravating the problem. The global changes caused all higher education environments to move away from traditional teaching and learning that simply no longer adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing educational environment. This also applies to learning a foreign language. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the role of digital technologies in the educational process when building students’ foreign language competencies. The aim was achieved by using the methods of testing, survey, observation and expert evaluation. Statistical methods of analysis were used to interpret the obtained results. The results of the study gave grounds to state that the use of digital technologies when studying a foreign language has a positive effect compared to the results of the control group who studied according to the traditional programme. It was also determined that the students of the control group highly appreciated the usefulness of technology and also noted that the teachers’ support in the learning process is an important factor for successful learning of the material. The novelty of the research is that it was conducted in the conditions of offline learning and analysed how it is possible to more effectively stimulate the development of foreign language competencies with the help of digital technologies. The development of a programme using digital technologies to improve the communication skills of foreign language students can become a promising research direction. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Serhiy Danylyuk, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University at Cherkasy, Ukraine.

Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, Educational-and-Scientific Institute of Foreign Languages, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University at Cherkasy, Ukraine.

Antonina Pak, South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushinsky, Odesa, Ukraine.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Western and Eastern Languages and their Teaching Methods, Faculty of Foreign
Languages, South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushinsky, Odesa, Ukraine.

Svitlana Terekhova, State TradeEconomic University, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Professor, Department of Modern European Languages, Faculty of Economics, Management and Psychology, State TradeEconomic University, Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Tetiana Mykolenko, Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.

Associate Professor, Department of the Ukrainian Language and Slavic Studies, Faculty of Philology and Journalism, Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.

Sofiia Kozak, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine.

Associate Professor, Department of German Philology, Faculty of Foreign Philology, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine.

References

Ahmadi, R. A. (2018). The use of technology in English language learning. International
Journal of Research in English Education, 3(2), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.29252/ijree.3.2.115

Ahmetović, E., Bećirović, S., & Dubravac, V. (2020). Motivation, anxiety and students’ performance. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 9(2), 271–289. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2020.2.271

Atmowardoyo, H. (2018). Research methods in TEFL studies: Descriptive research, case study, error analysis, and R & D. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 9(1), 197-204. http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0901.25

Balcı, Ö., & Kartal, G. (2021). A new vocabulary revision technique using WhatsApp: Peer- chain. Education and Information Technologies, 26, 5873–5893 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021- 10571-7

Bin-Hady, W. R. A., & Al-Tamimi, N. O. M. (2021). The use of technology in informal English language learning: evidence from Yemeni undergraduate students. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 17(2), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1108/L THE-09- 2020-0037

Chiu, T. K. F., Moorhouse, B. L., Chai, C. S., & Ismailov, M. (2023). Teacher support and student motivation to learn with Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chatbot. Interactive Learning Environments. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2172044

Chen, C. W.-Y. (2022). Lifelong informal language learning in the digital age: An ecological perspective on three learners’ learning journeys. Pedagogies: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554480X.2022.2124998

El Aouifi, H., El Hajji, M., Es-Saady, Y., & Douzi, H. (2021). Predicting learner’s performance through video sequences viewing behavior analysis using educational data- mining. Education and Information Technologies, 26, 5799–5814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10512-4

Elmurodov, U. Y. (2020). The Importance of Multimedia and Mobile Applications in Teaching Foreign Languages. Science and Education, 1(Special Issue 2).

Eshonkulova, S. (2020). The importance of interactive methods and principles in English language lessons. Science and Education, 1(7).

Fandiño, F. G. E., Muñoz, L. D., & Velandia, A. J. S. (2019). Motivation and E-Learning English as a foreign language: A qualitative study. Heliyon, 5(9), e02394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02394

Fu, Y., Zhang, L., Zhao, S., & Chen, Y. (2021). Perceptions of Non-English Major College Students on Learning English Vocabulary with Gamified Apps. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 16(18), 268–276. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i18.24125

Geng, S., Law, K., & Niu, B. (2019). Investigating self-directed learning and technology readiness in a blending learning environment. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0147-0

Gokcearslan, S. (2017). Perspectives of students on acceptance of tablets and self-directed learning with technology. Contemporary Educational Technology, 8(1), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/6186

Ishchenko, Y., Vdovenko О., Nych, T., Moroz-Rekotova, L., & Arystova, L. (2022). Effectiveness of distance learning in higher educational institutions under martial law. Apuntes Universitarios, 13(1), 348-364. https://doi.org/10.17162/au.v13i1.1332

Ju, S. Y., & Mei, S. Y. (2018). Perceptions and practices of blended learning in foreign language teaching at USIM. European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, 12(1). Retrieved from https://oarep.usim.edu.my/jspui/handle/123456789/12321

Kusuma, G. P., Wigati, E. K., Utomo, Y., & Suryapranata, L. K. P. (2018). Analysis of gamification models in education using MDA framework. Procedia Computer Science, 135, 385- 392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2018.08.187

Lai, C., Wang, Q., & Lei, J. (2012). What factors predict undergraduate students’ use of technology for learning? A case from Hong Kong. Computers & Education, 59(2), 569–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.03.006

Lin, R., Yang, J., Jiang, F., & Li, J. (2022). Does teacher’s data literacy and digital teaching competence influence empowering students in the classroom? Evidence from China. Education and Information Technologies, 28, 2845–2867.

Meguid, E. A., & Collins, M. (2017). Students’ perceptions of lecturing approaches: traditional versus interactive teaching. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 8, 229. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S131851

OECD. (2023). A long unwinding road. OECD Economic Outlook. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/june-2023/

Pala, Ş. M., & Başıbüyük, A. (2023). The Predictive Effect of Digital Literacy, Self-Control and Motivation on the Academic Achievement in the Science, Technology and Society Learning Area. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 28, 369–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09538-x

Quanjiang, G. U. O., Xiaozhou Emily, Z. H. O. U., & Xuesong Andy, G. A. O. (2021). Research on Learning and Teaching of Languages Other than English in System. System, 100, 102541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102541

Rashid, T., & Asghar, H. M. (2016). Technology use, self-directed learning, student engagement and academic performance: examining the interrelations. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 604–612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.084

Silveira, M. D. S., & Cogo, A. L. P. (2017). The contributions of digital technologies in the teaching of nursing skills: an integrative review. Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem, 38.

Tawafak, R., Romli, A., Arshah, R., & Almaroof, R. (2018). Assessing the impact of technology learning and assessment method on academic performance: review paper. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(6), 2241–2254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/87117

Toktamysov, S., Alwaely, S. A., & Gallyamova, Z. (2023). Digital technologies in history training: the impact on students` academic performance. Education and Information Technologies, 28, 2173–2186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11210-5

Vajzović, E., Turčilo, E., Cerić, H., Osmić, A., & Silajdžić, L. (2019). Introducing media and information literacy to the educational system - assessment of teachers ‘competence for teaching media and information literacy in Sarajevo Canton. Sarajevski Žurnal za Društvena Pitanja, 8, 131–163.

Yan, D., & Li, G. (2023). A Heterogeneity Study on the Effect of Digital Education Technology on the Sustainability of Cognitive Ability for Middle School Students. Sustainability, 15, 2784. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032784

Yilmaz, R. (2018). Self-directed learning with technology and academic motivation as predictors of tablet PC acceptance. In: Khan, A., & Umair, S. (Eds.), Handbook of research on mobile devices and smart gadgets in K-12 education. Information Science Reference, Hershey.
Published
2023-09-05
How to Cite
Danylyuk, S., Pak, A., Terekhova, S., Mykolenko, T., & Kozak, S. (2023). The Role of Digital Technologies in Building Foreign Language Competencies of Future Specialists. Journal of the University of Zulia , 14(41), 847-861. https://doi.org/10.46925//rdluz.41.47