The didactic potential of the Teletandem method of learning foreign languages for the development of communicative and cross-cultural competences

The article is concerned with the experimental teletandem project by LMSU and American universities in which Russian and American students reciprocally taught each other their native languages and cultures via ICT. Teletandem is an innovative method of learning, involving interaction of cultures and characterized by the autonomy of learners and learner-centeredness. It is based on the students' activity approach and is the autonomous learning of two individuals, both of whom being subjects of the learning process. Due to these characteristics teletandem learning meets the requirements of the Federal State Education Standard. A brief history of the tandem method in foreign language teaching and the evolution of its interpretation is given. The flexibility of the method, allowing various modifications is emphasized. The main didactic principles of tandem learning: autonomy, language equality and reciprocity are considered in detail. Special attention is paid to the didactic potential and advantages of the tandem method for developing communicative and cross-cultural competences. An experimental teletandem project of Russian and English learning by the LMSU in cooperation with two American universities is described, including its organization, goals, content and specifics of implementation. The results obtained, involving organization and motivation factors, the evaluation of successfulness of the project by the parameter of "students' satisfaction" are discussed. The opinions of the students from the survey about the project are cited as a basis for the evaluation of its quality and successfulness.

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