The requirements of the time and significant changes in the educational system with emphasis on distant learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic force teachers to reconsider methods, approaches, techniques, and tools in foreign language teaching to ensure the effectiveness of the learning process. This study describes the implementation of the inquiry-based method in the process of English language acquisition by Ukrainian university students specializing in cybernetics and information technology. It aims to determine the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning in developing Ukrainian university students’ comprehension and communication skills in professional English through technology-enabled learning. The main research question is to investigate the benefits and challenges of inquiry-based learning for Ukrainian university students to ensure impactful results. The methodology presupposes activities that encourage the independent and collaborative acquisition of the material, increase learners’ intrinsic motivation, enhance communicative and digital skills, and provoke critical thinking and meaningful learning. The teacher becomes a facilitator and organizer directing students’ learning process, fostering their active thinking and interest. It contributes to their better comprehension and meaningful study. The research findings proved the undeniable benefit of the inquiry-based method for university students as it develops their curiosity, inspires deeper understanding and learning, and motivates them to make discoveries and achievements

Considering the constant changes that take place in the modern world and, consequently, the psychological characteristics of the learning generation, there is a need to analyze and improve methods of teaching English. Analysis of the theoretical basis of the traditional and modern approaches and methods at different stages of language learning and the author’s own experience allows for optimizing knowledge and teaching practice to create the most effective conditions for foreign language learning. The theoretical foundations of methodologists and scientists (S. Thornby, J. Richards and T. Rogers, M. Reno, and J. Will), who studied both “forgotten” and modern methods widely used to teach students today, are analyzed. Therefore, the main attention was paid to the latest methods of teaching a foreign language and their application in our own practice to test their effectiveness. The methodological basis and application of combined methods in classes with students (immersion, project method, task-based method, and inquiry-based method), led to the conclusion that the rational and situational use of appropriate and acceptable methods in English classes requires creative teaching approach. Whereas pedagogy and methodology are sciences and arts simultaneously, the flexibility in choosing the proper methods for specific situations gives the highest efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and learning English and motivates students.

A surprising new challenge appeared with the advent of ChatGPT in November 2022 dealing with many academic tasks of different levels. The tool that revolutionized the way people interact with machines caused a lot of heated debates over its benefits and limitations. There is an increasing number of works devoted to different aspects of ChatGTP usage. They pose discussions and arguments among educators, scientists, governmental representatives, and even technology experts concerning ethical issues surrounding the use of ChatGTP. Some governmental institutions reacted instantly to the latest text tool and even forbade its use at schools and universities because of the fear that students might use it to cheat in university writing assignments and academic papers. The main worry is that tasks generated by this tool are relatively qualitative and may have a negative impact on learning. It does not contribute to developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for wholesome personalities and successful professionals. Another big challenge for teachers connected with the use of ChatGTP by university students is the inability to distinguish the text written by a new OpenAI chatbot from the works written by real students, even with the help of antiplagiarism tools currently in use. The results of the study prove that for many English teachers ChatGTP is the tool that may impede and interfere with successful educational process preventing the development of students’ creativity, critical thinking, and analytical skills. However, we admit the necessity to take advantage of the new chatbot, the need to rethink and reconsider the existing methods and praxis for learning foreign languages in line with the requirements of the time. It is of primary importance to start looking for new ways how to incorporate the emerging technology into the educational process, using effectively its possibilities and tools.

The requirements of the time and significant changes in the educational system with emphasis on distant learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic force teachers to reconsider methods, approaches, techniques, and tools in foreign language teaching to ensure the effectiveness of the learning process. This study describes the implementation of the inquiry-based method in the process of English language acquisition by Ukrainian university students specializing in cybernetics and information technology. It aims to determine the effectiveness of inquiry-based learning in developing Ukrainian university students’ comprehension and communication skills in professional English through technology-enabled learning. The main research question is to investigate the benefits and challenges of inquiry-based learning for Ukrainian university students to ensure impactful results. The methodology presupposes activities that encourage the independent and collaborative acquisition of the material, increase learners’ intrinsic motivation, enhance communicative and digital skills, and provoke critical thinking and meaningful learning. The teacher becomes a facilitator and organizer directing students’ learning process, fostering their active thinking and interest. It contributes to their better comprehension and meaningful study. The research findings proved the undeniable benefit of the inquiry-based method for university students as it develops their curiosity, inspires deeper understanding and learning, and motivates them to make discoveries and achievements.

At present the essence of cultural knowledge lies in its integration with major aspects of our life and belongs to the global skills which are also known as “life skills” and needed to achieve for lifelong success and fulfilment in the fast-changing and diverse world. The paper discusses the findings of international researchers (Kramsch (1992), Triandis (2002), Hall (1959), Schwartz (2012), Kulich (2002, 2015), M. Taylor (2002), M. Gelfand (2018) who explored different aspects of cultural awareness demonstrates the benefits of such knowledge for smooth and painless adaptation to new culture and society, transforms this knowledge into competence and develop flexibility and adaptability. The author consolidates and sums up these aspects and proposes some advice for efficient cooperation in multicultural teams. Among the recommendations how to nudge a culture she singles out the following: to share the best practices of expats; to transform cultural knowledge into competence and develop flexibility and adaptability in cros-cultural communication; to be aware of etic and emic lenses of different cultures; to avoid stereotyping judgements and estimates; to apply knowledge of ethnorelativism towards understanding the foreigners; to understand the logic of tight-loose cultures to cultivate cultural empathy; to accept different cultural norms to lower judgmental attitudes towards them; to observe, ask politely and interpret for understanding other cultures; to learn target language to bridge cultural gaps; to be open and sincere in conversation, avoid taboo and personal questions, ask what is important to others in culturally appropriate ways.