Modern Tools for Creative Learning of English in a Blended Learning Environment: Practices of Ukrainian Universities

Abstract

The practice of teaching English in higher education institutions confirms the efficiency and the popularity of using the blended learning methodology. The purpose of this study is to identify the tools of creative learning of English in a blended learning environment and establish their impact on the level of English language proficiency. To cover the purpose of this study, the authors employed theoretical and empirical methods, namely abstraction, theoretical analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, observation, questionnaire survey, description, comparison, and generalisation. It is established that blended learning, as a new method of learning English, involves the use of modern interactive and innovative technologies in the educational process, so that the conventional educational process transforms into a creative process with an innovative approach to obtaining professional competencies by students. It is determined that the use of information and communication technologies in a blended learning environment opens up opportunities for students to independently investigate educational material, but this process should take place under the guidance of a teacher. It is proved that online platforms are equally important for creative learning of English, the advantages of which are mobility, systematicity, interactivity, and controllability of knowledge. It is established that teachers of the Departments of English and foreign languages of the Olesya Gonchar Dnipro National University, Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, and Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University offer students to use such online platforms as Quizlet, Freerice, Learn English from the British Council Vocabulary.com, Microsoft Teams and the Flipgrid application for creative learning of English the effectiveness of which has been confirmed by a survey of students. The practical significance of the results obtained in this study indicates that the approach, according to which it is planned to survey students using a questionnaire method to identify the influence of information and communication technologies and creative learning tools on the academic achievements of students in learning English in Ukrainian higher education institutions, is of universal importance