Some Peculiarities of Developing Future Officers` Readiness for Professional Foreign Language Communication

Abstract

Current integration processes have led to changes in the professional training of future officers in the security and defense sector of Ukraine. Foreign language proficiency has become one of the key aspects characterizing the readiness of modern military specialists for general professional activity. Strengthening of the cooperation with foreign partners and participation in diverse international cooperation events require military personnel to be actively engaged in professionally oriented foreign language communication in real interaction conditions. However, the issues of forming the readiness for such communication among future military specialists, particularly the servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine, remains insufficiently studied by scientists. The objective of the article is to outline some aspects of forming the readiness of future officers of the National Guard of Ukraine for professional foreign language communication. During the study, the main theoretical approaches to forming the readiness of future military specialists for professional foreign language communication were analyzed, the main components of foreign language communicative competence of a future officer were determined and the pedagogical activity of a foreign language teacher in the process of forming the components of foreign language communicative competence among the cadets of the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine was analyzed.

The obtained results have shown that the foreign language communicative competence of a future officer is a complex, multiaspect phenomenon consisting of linguistic, sociolinguistic, strategic, discursive and psycho-emotional competencies. Analysis of pedagogical practice showed that a teacher involved in foreign language training of the National Guard of Ukraine servicemen actively applies both traditional and innovative teaching methods aimed at the development of the main components of foreign language communicative competence dynamically both while conducting classroom activities and during the cadets' self-preparation work at the military higher education establishment.

The conclusions justify the necessity of comprehensive development of each component of the foreign language communicative competence of a future officer of the National Guard of Ukraine which will contribute to the success of further foreign language communication during official meetings, trainings, conferences etc. involving representatives of the armed forces of partner countries.