The use of local history material at the lessons of Foreign languages.
M. Yakovleva,
teacher of English, School 29
The study of local history material is an integral part of teaching foreign languages, as it is the way to understanding a foreign culture. The study of foreign culture through language is possible only on the formed national cultural basis of the native language.
Understanding of the importance of local history in the educational process led to the inclusion of it in the rank of regional principle, which is treated as general pedagogical and didactic principle, orienting teachers on a systematic rational use of local material in the educational process.
The formation of communicative competence in teaching of foreign language�occurs by relying on knowledge from various disciplines. Legitimate are the interaction of the subject "Foreign language" with the arts, with the native language, with environmental education.
Currently, when autonomy of individual regions increased, the regional component at foreign language lessons is becoming very important.
Local history material brings foreign language communication to the personal experience of students, allows them to operate in any conversation by the facts and information they encounter in everyday life, in the conditions of existence in their native culture. Getting acquainted with a
foreign culture, students constantly compare it with the native culture.
So, the more extensive is the area of factual knowledge of native culture, which students operate, the more productive the work to familiarize with other cultures. Therefore, according to many researchers opinions, it is necessary to include a regional component at each stage of learning in the content of education.
The integration of the culture of the region with the foreign language study is carried out in two directions:
- the inclusion of local history information from different subject areas ( history, geography, literature, art) in the program of foreign language study;
- creative rethinking of received local history information, the ability to specify and analyze historical and current trends in the development of the region.
Methods of studying the native culture of the younger teenagers at lessons of a foreign language due to their age characteristics. They are committed to bright images, events, possess a curiosity that allows a teacher widely use folk tales, songs about Motherland, decorative arts. In the early stages of foreign language learning local history information is an entertaining character. New thrills help to stimulate children cognitive interest, which, in turn, increases the activity of learning, helps to create a positive motivation exercise.
The average teenager is activated cognitive and research activity of students. At this age stage the mental activity of adolescents increases. The great interest causes them a lesson where they defend their own hypotheses.
In late adolescence, it starts the orientation of consciousness to themselves. High school students have a great interest in their personalities. They like the process of self-discovery, sometimes violently, in conflict with others. That's why the most appropriate pedagogical methods are debates, disputations and discussions.
I use regional material components in the lessons, due to it children feel demand to engage in direct dialogue of cultures and to improve their English. Students learn to tell about cultural events of our republic, native town, its environment, publicly prepared to make an oral presentation logically and coherently. Also I try to fully consider the interests and inclinations of students and use such forms of learning like games, competitions, contests.
At the lessons I apply some learning technologies, such as "cooperative learning" and "project method", which have greater practical focus, allow you to combine individual work with group and collective work.
Project method creates a research creative atmosphere, where every student is involved in active cognitive process based on the methodology of cooperation. Children like the work on projects with regional content, to collect materials on native land, to see the flora and fauna, information exchange, presentation of projects in the form of essays, reports, micro dialogues , essays, translations, poems, drawings, photographs, oral newspaper and magazine.
Thus the use of local history material, surely:
-increases the efficiency of the pedagogical process, quality of education, has a beneficial effect on the motivation of the students;�
-acts as a bridge to facilitate penetration into a material culture;
-introduces the methods and techniques of scientific knowledge, develops research skills and abilities;- promotes formation of historical consciousness;
- promotes adaptation to the social and natural environment;�
- exists as a moral and patriotic education;
My experience convinced that the use of information associated with the real life of students in teaching of English language, stimulates their interest in learning foreign language, independence, the activity of each student, brings up a responsible attitude, contributes to the formation of personality.