THE FORMATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCIES IN THE PROCESS OF HEURISTIC LEARNING OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The article substantiated the feasibility of using heuristic technologies of studying at the foreign language lessons. The characteristics and peculiarities of heuristic development of material in a foreign language are investigated: the ability independently to define the purpose, tasks, methods of independent educational work, creatively rethink and transform the acquired knowledge and methods of cognitive activity, the ability to create their own educational products (original new knowledge and methods of activity) and to evaluate adequately the process and results of independent cognitive activity. It is noted that heuristic study of a foreign language has a positive effect on the formation of students’ communicative competencies, as it increases their motivation and cognitive activity, relieves tension at the lesson, promotes equal dialogue interaction between subjects of study, facilitates the perception of material, etc. To measure how successfully the formation of students’ communicative competencies was, diagnostic and evaluation complex had been developed through the identification of the quality of their main educational products (reports, dialogues, presentations, etc.)

Their quantity and quality become an indicator of the forming of these competencies and creative self-realization in general. Such products are a more motivated goal for them than simply mastering knowledge and skills with their little (if any) further application. The product reflects both mastered knowledge, skills and characteristics of communicative activity. In heuristic learning, the product is the purpose of activity, and motives, knowledge and skills are means to achieve such a goal. It is fundamentally important that without the presence of personal significance of the material being studied, one cannot hope for its development (rethinking, transformation, etc.) at the level of personality. This is essence and complexity of the heuristic approach to learning, because modern society, market relations are not satisfied with the knowledge which is simply remembered. Therefore, there is a need to consider the formation of communicative competencies of medical students from the positions of personally oriented heuristic education. It is proved that heuristic organization of studying a foreign language and its leading component – cognitive and creative independent work – becomes a significant factor in the successful formation and improvement of students’ communication competencies, if they implement a didactically grounded complex of specially selected heuristic methods and prepared tasks necessary for performing independent creative activities oriented to successful professional activity and future doctors’ personal professional development.