The article is focused on the concept of «virtual learning environment» and its role in the students’ independ-ent work. The virtual learning environment as a means of effective communication of participants in the edu-cational process helps to transit from the «knowledge-based» paradigm to the «personality-oriented» educa-tion, aimed to develop students’ creative potential, their cognitive activity, motivation and engagement at the language classes. The authors highlight that in addition to traditional didactic requirements, there are a num-ber of specific conditions for the successful functioning in the virtual learning environment. Based on the ex-perience of implementing virtual educational environments, a need for the adaptability of educational process, which implies the possibility for students to choose the most appropriate individual pace for studying materi-al. It is shown that specific content of the virtual learning environment may vary depending on the level of training students and their individual interests. The main requirement for the successful use of the virtual en-vironment is to develop creative cognitive abilities, foreign languages skills of students by the application of a virtual environment., so the authors come to the conclusion that the presence of informational technology in the learning process changes the internal specifics of the educational and cognitive activities of students, their thinking style, and psychological mechanisms of mental development. Thus, the independent work of stu-dents is multi-purpose and is aimed to achieve communicative and educational goals.

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