Basics of scientific foreign language communication for masters majoring in history: methodological aspect

Abstract

The present article contextualizes the field of English for Academic Purposes, with a particular focus on the Master studentsʼ professional and academic skills in History and the role of the course in their making further career choices. Although literature presents some theoretical and pedagogical models of EAP course designs, there is still no specific methodology for the discipline construction under the academic program for History Masters. The authorʼs views on the design of the discipline “Basics of Scientific Communication in a Foreign Language” are introduced and methodologically substantiated in the work program as well as practically implemented on the basis of the e-learning educational and methodical complex aimed at the first- and second-year Masters in specialty 032 History and Archeology. The competency-based approach reflects the original conception of EAP in its concentration on discipline-specific texts and academic communication activities appropriate to the academic history where language is foregrounded and seen as constitutive of content encompassing chronological thinking, the ability to identify the time sequence for each historical event; historical comprehension, the skills to read and construct historical narratives imaginatively; historical analysis and interpretation, techniques in comparison and distinguishing experiences, beliefs, ideologies; historical research, including historical issues analysis and decision making, the ability to formulate historical problems in question based on historical sources, find contradictions in historical records, and establish socially significant historical interpretations. The focus on socio-cultural and professional competencies in the ethical dimension provides opportunities to examine the relationships between historical events in their past-present-future time sequencing from the history study perspective. The authorʼs work program on the discipline design and the implemented e-learning educational and methodical complex practically aim at the development of studentsʼ general and professionally oriented communicative competencies in English (linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic) to succeed in effective communication in their academic and professional environments.