Organisation of Business English for Specific Purposes Course on Moodle

Hanna Shalatska, Olena Zotova-Sadylo, Oksana Balanaieva, Hennadiy Kravtsov

2020

Abstract

This paper investigates the factors that determine organizing of business English for specific purposes courses on Moodle platform. We have analyzed the Moodle tools that contribute to student’s language skills development which are in line with prospective professional activities of the learners. In addition, we have considered the means Moodle provides in terms of their capability to replenish lack of classic instructor-led in-class teaching and switching of the educational process to online mode as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the study is to examine English for specific purposes (ESP) Moodle-based courses as a means to advance the level of English language proficiency in distant learning environment; and to analyze the content peculiarities of ESP courses “Business Communication Technology for Law Students” and “Business English” (for Computer Engineering) focusing on nourishing four fundamental language skills (speaking, reading, listening, writing). Some principles of ESP Moodle course tailoring have been highlighted; they are outcome-oriented approach (providing the learning results are applicable in the professional activity, the materials have been added to the course by right), functional language application (the language structures should be presented in career relevant context), layout (focus on speaking and listening activities), learner’s centered approach (a student is a key stakeholder) and facilitating role of the educator. One aim of this study is to assess the extent to which the services providing by Moodle, like Interactive Content (H5P), Wiki, Database Activities, Forums, BigBlueButton and others contribute to enhancing four language skills of the learners. The comprehensive analysis has revealed some predicaments the course designer has to cope with, for example lack of background knowledge in the specific domains or significant difference in the level of English language proficiency within one class. Experimental courses are being testing currently in Donetsk Law Institute of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Kryvyi Rih National University. More than 300 students of different legal and IT specialisms are engaged in the approbation. It should be taken into account that the article represents the interim results and the experimental study has development outlook.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Shalatska H., Zotova-Sadylo O., Balanaieva O. and Kravtsov H. (2020). Organisation of Business English for Specific Purposes Course on Moodle. In Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology - Volume 2: AET, ISBN 978-989-758-558-6, pages 346-359. DOI: 10.5220/0010931600003364

in Bibtex Style

@conference{aet20,
author={Hanna Shalatska and Olena Zotova-Sadylo and Oksana Balanaieva and Hennadiy Kravtsov},
title={Organisation of Business English for Specific Purposes Course on Moodle},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology - Volume 2: AET,},
year={2020},
pages={346-359},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0010931600003364},
isbn={978-989-758-558-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Advances in Educational Technology - Volume 2: AET,
TI - Organisation of Business English for Specific Purposes Course on Moodle
SN - 978-989-758-558-6
AU - Shalatska H.
AU - Zotova-Sadylo O.
AU - Balanaieva O.
AU - Kravtsov H.
PY - 2020
SP - 346
EP - 359
DO - 10.5220/0010931600003364