COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PRECONDITIONS OF THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION EMERGENCE IN EUROPE AND ANCIENT RUS (V–XIV CENTURIES)

Abstract

Purpose. The article examines foreign language education phenomenon from historical and pedagogical point of view. The subject of the research is preconditions of the foreign language education emergence in Europe and Ancient Rus in the V–XIV centuries. The purpose of the research is to undertake comparative analysis of the above mentioned phenomenon and to identify similarities and differences of the European and old Russian approaches to foreign language teaching. Materials and methods. The basis of the research is the theoretical methods (methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization and systematization, as well as the method of analogy) and methods of historical science (methods of historical periodization, retrospective method, historical and logical method). Results. The results of the study are that the author characterizes the Middle Ages and the period of Ancient Rus from the point of view of foreign language education emergence. Christianity, ideas of ancient philosophers and teachers, and scholasticism were the key factor that had a significant impact on foreign language teaching in the Middle Ages. Medieval foreign language teaching methods did not provide for in-depth language learning. In Ancient Rus from the X – XI centuries, palace schools were being opened, where foreign languages were taught. The main method used for teaching foreign languages to princes was “feeding” (“kormil’stvo”), and princes inevitably acquired foreign state culture while studying abroad. Conclusion. Methods used in Ancient Rus were more fruitful than those which were used in the Middle Ages. And the method of language “immersion” affected greatly the subsequent methods of foreign language teaching in our country, and led to the introduction of the term “foreign language education” in the Russian Federation after many centuries.

Keywords

• foreign language education
• foreign language teaching
• communicative approach
• culture
• the middle ages
• ancient rus
• mongol-tatar yoke