Development of Mechanisms of Self-regulation and Reflection for Prevention of Disadaptation Syndrome when Teaching Foreign Students Russian as a Foreign Language

Abstract

The article deals with solving the issues associated with the problem of a low adaptation level of foreign students who intend to acquire higher education inUkraine. The authors examine pedagogical strategies for prevention of disadaptation syndrome in students that manifests itself in affective disorders and neurotic reactions; and name the factors that hinder smooth personal integration in a foreign language socio-cultural environment. The psychological instability in students could be provoked by the following causes: a low level of language and basic pre-university preparation, psychological and moral unpreparedness for studying in a new socio-cultural environment, a low level of sociability and stress tolerance, an underdeveloped ability to consciously regulate one’s own behaviour, self-control and self-assessment. To reduce the psychological discomfort and avoid development of disadaptation syndrome, the authors propose to use pedagogical strategies that help to form and enhance mechanisms of thematic personal self-regulation and educational reflection. The proposed method for overcoming adaptation difficulties has a positive effect on learning efficiency as the students start to feel a desire to integrate in a new foreign educational environment, aspiration for self-improvement and self-development, and ability to be optimistic about adaptation difficulties, etc. The article provides methodical recommendations for further development and implementation of efficient methods for activating students’ inner reserves and instilling a confidence in the possibility of social success in the learning process. One of the possible avenues to solve the problem at hand could be setting-up of linguo-socio-cultural centres for students with psychological and academic difficulties of various origins under higher educational institutions ofUkraine. The structure and responsibilities of such centres have been developed by a group of scholars of theV.N.KarazinKharkovNationalUniversity.