Effective Means of Developing Foreign Language Lexical Competence of Higher Education Students

Abstract

Foreign language proficiency is considered an essential component of the professional competence of modern higher education students, as it ensures effective intercultural communication, access to international scientific resources, and participation in professional activities at the global level. The purpose of the article is to investigate the problem of developing foreign language lexical competence among higher education students as an important component of the professional training of future specialists in the context of globalization and Ukraine’s integration into the European educational space. Methods. The study analyzes theoretical approaches to the development of lexical competence, particularly its structure and key skills, including word formation, lexical collocation, and the appropriate use of lexical units in various communicative situations. Special attention is given to effective teaching methods such as working with authentic texts, implementing a system of carefully selected exercises, as well as applying interactive and digital technologies. The role of adaptive digital platforms, gamification, mobile learning, and artificial intelligence tools, including chatbots, in promoting autonomous learning, active revision, and intensive language practice is also examined.Results. The research findings demonstrate that the integrated use of these methods significantly improves vocabulary acquisition, strengthens receptive and productive language skills, and facilitates comprehension of specialized texts, participation in scientific discussions, and preparation of academic papers. Moreover, the development of lexical competence contributes to broader communicative competence, enhances intercultural awareness, and increases students’ professional mobility and competitiveness in the modern labor market. The importance of organizing lexical competence development in sequential stages—semantic understanding, automatization, and reproduction—is also emphasized, ensuring effective comprehension, internalization, and active use of lexical units in different professional and communicative situations. Conclusions. The article substantiates that a comprehensive approach combining traditional exercises, authentic materials, and modern digital technologies contributes to the formation of a high level of foreign language lexical competence. This ensures the development of motivation, self-regulated learning skills, and the readiness of future specialists for successful activity in international professional and academic environments.