Modern methods of teaching english for military purposes

Modern methods of teaching english for military purposes Saidkulova Nazokat (Senior teacher) Chirchik higher tank command engineering military school  On the basis of thoroughly grasping the Party's and State's guidelines on foreign   language   teaching   and   learning  in   the   national   education   system   and recognizing the role and importance of foreign languages in the task of building the Army   and   protecting   the   Motherland   in   the   context   of   increasingly   extensive international defense integration, exchange, and cooperation, in the past years, the Central   Military   Commission   and   the   Ministry   of   Defense   have   always   paid attention to leading and directing the promotion of foreign languages teaching and learning  in military academies and schools (hereafter referred collectively to as schools) and fostering to improve the standard of foreign language for the cadres, officers, and warrant soldiers in the entire Army. Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defence has developed and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval and   actively   implemented   the   Project   on   "Training   and   fostering   of   foreign languages  in the Army in the 2015 ­ 2020 period and beyond". Specifically, on November 11th, 2016, the Ministry of Defense issued Directive No.89/CT­BQP "On a number of urgent tasks to improve the quality of foreign language teaching and learning in the military school system," to strengthen the direction of the issue. Immediately after the promulgation of  Directive No.89/CT­BQP, with the spirit of initiative and responsibility, the entire Army, first of all, the relevant functional agencies of the Ministry of National Defence and military schools have thoroughly grasped and seriously implemented through a number of synchronous and   effective   measures   in   line   with   their   assigned   functions   and   tasks.   The Ministry   of   National   Defence   has   established   the   Steering   Committee   for   the implementation of the Project on "Training and fostering of foreign languages in the Army in the 2015 ­ 2020 period and beyond". The Department of Schools, under the General Staff ­ The standing body of the Steering Committee, has led and coordinated with the agencies and units in investigating the current status of the   foreign   language   proficiency   of   lecturers   and   teachers   and   the   quality   of foreign   language   teaching   and   learning  in   military   schools.   On   that   basis, synchronous and effective solutions have been proposed and deployed to improve the quality of foreign language teaching and learning in the Army. The Department of Schools and the schools have held several training courses and field trips for learning   models   of   foreign   language   teaching   and   learning   for   lecturers   and teachers. At the same time, revision of foreign language teaching and learning results   at a number of military schools has been conducted to draw experience. Additionally, resources have been mobilized and invested in the equipment for foreign language teaching and learning  for schools, especially those with high demand for foreign languages. To implement the instruction of the Ministry, the Military Science Academy has been collaborated with to develop and implement the   Project   on   “Improving   the   quality   of   foreign   language   and   international relations training at Military Science Academy in the 2016 ­ 2020 period". The Project is aimed at building the Academy as a leading foreign language training center   of   the   Army,   capable   of   evaluating   foreign   language   proficiency   and fostering foreign language lectures and teachers in accordance with the national and international standards. In order to create a motive force for promoting the movement   of   foreign   language   teaching   and   learning   in   military   schools,   the Ministry   of   National   Defence   has   instructed   the   organization   of   the   first English Olympiads of military schools in 2017 and directed agencies and schools to carry out research and preparation for foreign language graduation examination for officer cadets. In particular, the Ministry has allowed schools to supplement A1 subject  group (mathematics, chemistry, and English) to military admissions in order to create an input high foreign language proficiency for the Army. For the schools, the implementation of Directive No.89/CT­BQP has been strictly directed and drastically and promptly implemented with several effective measures   and   solutions.   Besides   attaching   importance   to   all   faculties   and departments of foreign languages and enhancing the training and fostering of high­ quality   lecturers   and   teachers   of   foreign   languages,   the   military   schools   have actively   renovated   the   contents   and   adjusted   programs   on   foreign   language teaching and learning, accelerated the application of information technology, and use of teaching and learning, and renewed examing   and testing models for the evaluation   of   cadets’   foreign   language   proficiency   with   priority   placed   on investment in equipment and construction and consolidation of multi­purpose and specialized   classrooms   for   teaching   and   learning   of   foreign   languages. Concurrently, the military schools have introduced good models and practical and effective measures to improve foreign language proficiency of teachers and cadets. Consequently, a positive environment and driving force for learning and using foreign languages have been created. It can be seen that after more than one year of implementation of Directive No.89/CT­BQP, the teaching and learning of foreign language in military schools have seen remarkable progress. The result, however, is just the initial. The foreign language   proficiency   and   pedagogical   capacity   of   a   number   foreign   language lecturers and teachers, the foreign language ability of officials and lecturers of other specialties are still limited. In some schools, the methods of foreign language teaching and learning and proficiency assessment have not been much renewed, which fails to create a real environment for communication and use of foreign languages. The provision of means and equipment for this work has been limited. A number of cadets have not been aware of the role of foreign languages, which results   in   low   learning   achievements  to   meet   the   training   objectives   and requirements. Improvement of the quality of foreign language teaching and learning  is both an urgent and immediate task and fundamental and long­term requirement. It is one of the breakthroughs to fundamentally and strongly renovate the quality and efficiency of education and training in military schools and contribute to building high­quality human resources to meet  the requirements on construction of the Army   and   performance   of   military   and   defense   tasks   in   the   new   situation. Therefore, agencies and units, first of all the schools in the entire Army should thoroughly grasp the resolutions and instructions of the superior level on this issue to   strengthen   the   leadership   and   direction   of   foreign   language   teaching   and learning and well propagate, educate, and raise awareness and build motives and responsibilities for subjects, especially teachers and learners. Measures should be further   implemented   in   a   more   drastic,   synchronous,   and   effective   manner   to promote and improve the quality of foreign language  teaching and learning. In the immediate future, the schools should review and supplement  the contents and measures to implement the Project on "Training and fostering of foreign languages  in the Army in the 2015 ­ 2020 period and beyond" and Directive No.89/CT­BQP  in accordance with the practical situation. In particular, special importance should be attached to the combination of training and fostering of foreign languages and the implementation of the schools’ Action Plan in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Issued under Decision No.889/QĐ­BQP on March 22nd, 2018 by the Ministry of Defense). In order to realize the set objectives, the military schools should actively overcome   difficulties   and   promote   the   building   and   fostering   of   lecturers   and teachers of foreign languages to ensure sufficient quantity and standardization of proficiency, capacity, and professional enthusiasm. At the same time, due attention should be paid to the training and fostering of foreign language proficiency for lecturers and teachers of other specialists, and this work should be put on the top priority.   Moreover,   the   contents,   programs   and   methods   of   foreign   language teaching and learning and examing and testing models should be actively studied and   renovated   with   importance   attached   to   the   application   of   supportive information technology in teaching and learning. Foreign language teaching and learning  should   be   oriented   towards   grasping   grammar   in   association   with developing communicative skills. On the other hand, the schools should focus on selecting,   compiling,   and   completing   foreign   language   teaching   and   learning curriculums and materials to ensure "standardization and modernization" and suit with the training levels and majors and military characteristics. Initiative should be taken   in   compiling   foreign   language   textbooks   for   specialties   to   prepare   all necessary elements and conditions to organize the foreign language graduation examination in accordance with the defined plan. While bringing into full play their achievements, the schools should intensify the coordination in experience exchange and assistance in foreign language teaching and learning and promote international   cooperation   in   foreign   language   training.   At   the   same   time, breakthrough   solutions   should   be   introduced   to   establish   and   maintain   the environment for learning and using foreign languages  in daily communication, especially improving the performance of foreign language clubs, constructing and replicating advanced models of foreign language teaching and learning. Cadres, lecturers, and cadets should be encouraged and motivated to promote their learning and following of Uncle Ho's example of foreign language self­learning, which will help create an extensive spread among the Army. Besides, relevant agencies of the Ministry of Defense, directly the Department of Schools should strengthen the coordination, guidance, inspection, and monitoring of the schools’ implementation of the Project on ""Training and fostering of foreign languages in the Army in the 2015 ­ 2020 period and beyond" and Directive No.89/CT­BQP. Thus, difficulties and problems will be aware of and reported, and measures will be proposed for settlement.   In   the   coming   time,   the   Department   of   Schools   will   continue   to coordinate   and   direct   the   military   schools   to   promote   the   consolidation   and standardization of the contingent of foreign language lecturers and teachers and well perform the work of foreign language teaching and learning planning to suit with   each   school   and   training   major.   In   addition,   other   work   will   be   well performed, including foreign language verification, review and study to establish the   foreign   language   "output   standard",   maintenance   and   improvement   of   the quality   of   the   foreign   language   Olympiads   in  the   entire   Army,   and   pilot   of international­standard   foreign   language   training   programs   for   division­level officers to create sources for overseas study and postgraduate training. Improvement of the quality of foreign language teaching and learning in the military schools is not only an urgent and immediate but also a fundamental and long­term task which should be drastically and persistently implemented with high determination, appropriate measures, and specific roadmap to contribute to realizing the objectives of training the contingent of officers with comprehensive quality   to   meet   the   requirements   of   building   the   Army   and   defending   the Motherland in the period of accelerating the industrialization and modernization and international integration. References 1. Hyland   Ken,   English   for   Academic   Purposes,   Routledge   printed Company, 2006, pg. 81. 2. Littlewood   William,   Communicative   Language   Teaching,   Cambridge University Press, 2002, pg 82. 3. Nunan   David,   Designing   Tasks   for   the   Communicative   Class, Cambridge University Press, 2001. 4. Richards   Jack   C.,   Communicative   Language   Teaching   Today, Cambridge University Press, 2006. 5. Savignon   Sandra   J.,   Communicative   Language   Teaching:   Linguistic Theory and Classroom Practice, Yale University Press New Haven 6. & London, 2002, pg.4. 7. Wilkins, D., Notional syllabuses, Oxford University Press, 1976, pg. 13.