E-Learning as Specific Element of Pedagogical Process in Foreign Language Teaching

The article represents a major dissemination process of the TEMPUS Project which was developed to deliver foreign language education and training for special purposes at technical universities on the Volga region of Russia. The key Universities were the technical Universities in Saratov, Samara and Volgograd who in partnership with the University of Surrey (UK) and Oldenburg University (Germany) created Self Access Centres (SACs) for independent language learning together with interactive learning modules in order to enable independent student learning as emphasised by the Bologna agreement. It is considered that these centres besides developing technical foreign language learning for students during their studies, can help business people who wish to enhance their technical language skills or indeed members of the public who need to develop language skills will also be able to access the centres. The Tempus Project was first conceived as a way of meeting the needs of Russian Technical students for further language studies, maintaining their knowledge of English and German during the final 3 years of their university programmes. The proposal was to develop CD-ROMs in English and German for a wide range of academic programmes. Implementation of IT technologies in every day life of people and respectively, in all types of educational institution is actively spreading. The majority of Russian scientists consider the instruments of e-learning as specific organizing and methodological elements of pedagogical process implemented due to hi-tech but not a new technological cover of traditional learning process. Methodology of effective e-learning is based upon the following criteria: engaging learners in the learning process, encouraging independent learning skills, developing learners’ skills, motivating learning. Participants of JEP are developing approaches to e-learning in LSP and programs for self-access learning with the focus on learning activities. Effective e-learning is the achieving of basic language skills, constructing new ideas through dialogues, a good cross-cultural and social communication. Saratov State Technical University started the programme promoting effective foreign language learning in technical university. Effective practices can really be effective with the right resources. Setting-up a self-access centre (SAC) a space where students can work independently, at their own pace, with materials that are varied or tailor-made, according to their needs, preference and learning styles is the best solution for that problem. In the current state of affairs, the global dominance of English in science and technology has created the need for an ever increasing number of people to learn to communicate in the English language. The crucial point for SAC sustainability is a stock of self-access language learning materials. The designing of tailor-made language CD-program meeting the needs of technical students is intended to prepare the learner for real-life situations. One of the main purposes is to help the learner to develop strategies for dealing with the new language. As course designers, such factors as the learners' linguistic knowledge, motivational barriers, language systems, e-course expectations, affective factors, language learning anxiety and background knowledge about topics taught or available in the CD course must be examined or discussed before a solid course can materialize