IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ON THE DEVELOPEMENT OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE AT UNIVERSITY

Abstract

A non-native speaker's ability to master a foreign language depends on practice, so teaching English to non-native speakers in a non-English speaking society makes it difficult to practice and use English. Educational institutions in Russia are seeking the ways to address this issue. Cooperative learning is one of the techniques that provides learners with an opportunity to develop communicative competence for English foreign language learners. The study aims to evaluate how cooperative learning impacts the development of communicative competence of non-native speakers of English in Russia. The author analyzed the existing research on the issue and applied cooperative learning in the education process of 60 students studying English for Specific Purposes (ESP). The impact of cooperative learning was assessed via a survey after the educational course was completed. The results showed that cooperative learning enhances English language learners' communicative competence. The results of the research can be used to teach English for Specific Purposes at universities.