Types and contents of independent work tasks fornon-language department students

Abstract

Key functions of tasks for non-language department students’ independent work in the English language (teaching, cognitive, activating, diagnostic, educational, worldview ones) are presented in the article.  It is found that the teaching function lies in the revision and deepening of learning material (grammar or lexical exercises, learning new wordsetc.); the cognitive function allows students to evaluate their level of knowledge,find weak and strong points, and correspondingly choose tasks for independent work. The educational function lies in the formation of such qualities as independence and answerableness, which are linked to creative tasks organized in pairs of students or small groups.  The basic requirements for students’ independent work evaluationare identified (careful analysis of the content of the assignment, gradual complication of tasks, correspondence to everyday realities, etc.). For example, during the first term tasks for students’ independent work are only to do grammar and lexical exercises, learn words in the specialty. It is the first stage of students’ independent work. The following stage of their independent work is to be ready with their individual reading, prepare reports, write scientific articles etc. To perform these tasks a student has to examine scientific literature and find a way to solve this problem. This activity allows students to get acquainted with the methods of scientific and creative search, which can help in their future profession. Creative tasks allow not only understanding students’ level of knowledge, but also evaluating their skills to apply their knowledge in practice. Also the main types of homework tasks in the English language (performing exercises for fixing active grammar and vocabulary, preparing reports, etc.) are given in this article.