Gamification in Military Education as a Tool for Developing Foreign Language Communication Competence

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to theoretically substantiate the impact of gamification through the Internet platform Kahoot! on the development of foreign language communicative competence among cadets of military higher education institutions. Research methods. 1) in-depth analysis of scientific literature to study and summarise research on gamification and the use of Kahoot! in the educational process; 2) comparative analysis to compare different approaches to the development of foreign language communicative competence among military cadets; 3) systematic approach to identify the links between the use of Kahoot! and the level of development of foreign language communicative competence among military cadets. Results. It has been established that gamification leads to the use of game elements in non-game contexts to increase the motivation and involvement of students, which will contribute to active learning, development of cooperation skills and independent learning. It is emphasised that gamification is a tool for motivation and interactive learning, and therefore, it can be a means for developing speech and communication skills, which are necessary for successful communication in a foreign language. In order to achieve high results in the development of foreign language communicative competence, innovative and interactive tools should be used in the educational process. One of these innovative platforms is Kahoot!, which provides ample opportunities for the development of language skills on the basis of interactive learning. It is an effective tool for conducting surveys in small groups, for example, in the form of quizzes before exams.The authors consider the implementation and integration of Kahoot! Platform into the educational process of learning a foreign language in military educational institutions. Based on the analysis, recommendations for teachers on the effective use of Kahoot! Platform in the process of teaching a foreign language in military higher education institutions is substantiated. Conclusions. The use of Kahoot! in teaching a foreign language in military education helps to increase cadets' motivation, improves vocabulary learning, forms grammatical skills and develops foreign language communicative competence. By analysing the results and adapting the material to military specifics and terminology, the quality of teaching will be significantly improved, which will prepare cadets for professional communication in a foreign language in their future activities.