Mastering Foreign Language Competence of Ecology and Environment Managers for Mining Industry of Kuzbass

Abstract

Abstract. The necessity to solve nature conservation problems of Kuzbass mining industry demands from postgraduate education institutions to train highly qualified specialists in ecology and environment management. As 21st century education is competence-based one, the article clarifies the concept of competence in education, focuses on key competences, namely foreign language competence and its relevance for specialists in ecology and environment management. Foreign language competence is acquired through the course of "Foreign Language" discipline which covers the following aspects: academic reading, academic writing and public speaking. The article also describes the experience of organizing students' individual work taking into account their motivation and specific conditions of the discipline as well. Thus, both the content of the discipline and the approach to organize students' learning contribute to mastering foreign language competence of ecology and environment managers as inherent condition of their professional efficiency for solving ecological problems of mining industry in Kuzbass region.

A Comparative Study of Approaches to Teaching French and English for Future Specialists in Mining Industry

“…In addition to asynchrony in the process of studies, low attendance rate among students of master's degree programs is also a problem (because of their day-time employment or having a child). The seminar classes are properly held due to motivating behavior of the teacher [4]. But, teaching French in "mixed" groups inevitably violates the principle of teaching language for specific purposes, which is vital at this stage of education [9].…”