Нова українська школа: методика навчання англійської мови у 3-4 класах закладів загальної середньої освіти на засадах компетентнісного підходу - Крістіна Карпюк 2020

1.5. English in Ukraine
1. Mini-Encyclopaedia

During the previous decades when Ukraine was a constituent part of the Soviet Union, known as the closed-to-the-world-around country, the system of teaching foreign languages (English, in particular) had its own specific features. The preference was given to reading and translating texts as well as learning vocabulary and grammar with the help of the grammar-translation method. Speaking was not in the centre of attention at all. It is obvious that the main reason for the situation was the absence of the need in communication with other countries. As a consequence, having finished school, people knew the structure of the language but were unable to actually use it.

Since Ukraine got its independence in 1991 and some changes in political, social and economic life of the country took place, there have been some major changes in teaching foreign languages. The communicative language teaching method became the point of interest for many methodologists though there was the absence of competent teacher trainers and vague understanding of this method’s main principles that had its influence on the practice of implementation of the method in Ukrainian schools.

Nowadays according to the new National Curriculum (2018), a foreign language, predominantly English, is one of the obligatory subjects at school that presupposes learning it during the whole period of secondary school which lasts for 12 years.

Students finish primary school at the age often and are expected to have achieved the communicative competence at the A1 level (beginner). This competence includes not only the knowledge of grammar and vocabulary but also the skills necessary to effectively socialise both in oral and written forms with other people. In accordance with the programme of «The New Ukrainian School» (2016), which describes the conceptual principles of the secondary school reform, pupils should get it through practical activities.

«Communication in foreign languages» was identified to be as one of the 10 key competencies of new educational standards of the New Ukrainian School and is based on recommendations of the European Parliament and of the European Council.

However, not all teachers in Ukraine are competent enough as for the communicative teaching at primary school and continue using the learners’ first language explaining grammar material, in particular. Considering the fact that a teacher is usually the main and most effective sample of using a foreign language in the Ukrainian primary school, educators themselves should speak English as much as possible, apart from using different video and audio files. This seems especially important when we take into account that children in Ukraine do not live in an English-speaking environment and the classroom can be the only place where they hear and use this language.

Today more appropriate sources of information can be found as well as the courses which can be attended by teachers of English. These are arranged by the British Council with the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education which help educators to change their methods of teaching and implement them into the practice of the Ukrainian school.

In the programme «The New Ukrainian School» issued by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (2016) they declare, «The quality of education, in particular, in foreign languages, will be increased in every primary school.» According to the document, the important tasks that stand in front of the new Ukrainian primary school are:

✵ to pay attention to individual abilities of children;

✵ to organise study through activities, using gaming methods;

✵ to give teachers freedom to choose or create educational programmes within the primary education;

✵ to support self-confidence and motivation for knowledge in every child.