Use of videos for teaching a foreign language to cadets of higher military educational institutions and servicemen

Abstract

The relevance of the research is conditioned by the necessity to acquire knowledge of a foreign language by cadets of higher military educational institutions and servicemen for successful performance of official duties. In the article, the scientific and methodological literature on the use of video materials for teaching a foreign language has been analyzed. The aim of the article was to define the importance and necessity of using video materials for teaching English to cadets of higher military educational institutions and servicemen. The requirements of English knowledge in listening and speaking for servicemen, whose knowledge of English corresponds to the standardized speech level ‘functional’, have been considered. It has been found that servicemen have to understand conversations on both everyday and professional topics and to be able to communicate effectively in everyday and standard working situations. Based on the analysis of the literature, the advantages of the use of video materials for teaching a foreign language have been determined; the main techniques of using video materials (watching video materials without sound, listening to the plot without watching a video file, watching a video file with stops, partial watching (when a part of the screen is closed and cadets / servicemen have to guess what was closed), division of cadets into two groups) and requirements for selecting video files have been characterized. In the article, the necessity to teach to understand the real speech of native speakers has been highlighted; the description of oral informal spontaneous speech has been given; the practice of selective ignoring the heard information has been clarified. The examples of websites, which correspond to topics of teaching of cadets / servicemen have been given (U.S. Army Talent Management, VSB Defense, Military Comparisons, Defense Forces and Military Center). Taking into account the received information, the recommendations on the work with video materials have been given. The necessity of teaching cadets / servicemen how to work with video materials and how to develop the ability to learn English independently with the help of video materials was specified.

Keywords

• higher military educational institution; video materials
• servicemen; cadets
• stanag 6001