ROLE OF FEEDBACK IN AUTONOMOUS LEARNING OF PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED ENGLISH COMMUNICATION

Abstract

Introduction. The article presents the results of experimental training on the role of feedback in autonomous learning of professionally oriented English communication. The purpose of the experimental study was to investigate the impact of feedback on the results of autonomous learning of prospective teachers studying the two-year university course «English for Professional Communication», as well as the interdependence of the level of students’ awareness of feedback and their existing level of learning autonomy. Methodology. In order to determine the level of students’ awareness of feedback and the level of learning autonomy, adapted questionnaires were used: 1) «Main Features of Student Feedback Literacy» according to four main groups of features (understanding the nature of feedback; forming opinions; controlling emotions; and responding); 2) «English Students’ Autonomy Competence» according to the main components (beliefs in autonomous learning; determining the language learning objectives; implementing appropriate language learning strategies; monitoring the process of autonomous learning; evaluating the effectiveness of autonomous language learning). To determine the level of English language proficiency and to study the relationship between the level of learning autonomy and the level of English language proficiency, control testing with the Preliminary English Test was conducted. Results and Discussion. The results of the study indicate the importance of using feedback in the process of learning English for professional communication, which helps students identify mistakes, improve skills. The use of feedback motivates prospective teachers, and helps adapt learning to their needs. It makes the learning process more efficient and helps to achieve a higher level of English language proficiency. Students who received constant feedback in the learning process demonstrated better achievement results in the discipline «English for Professional Communication». At the same time, the results of the study confirm that a higher level of students’ awareness of feedback is observed among prospective teachers who have a higher level of learning autonomy.