Madaliev, A. A.

Trifonov, M. Y.

Electronic archive of Tomsk Polytechnic University

854. Traditions around the world [Site]. URL: http://fuza.ru/.5. New Year traditions [Site]. URL: http://izhlife.ru/.Scientific supervisor N.V. Kritskaya, senior lecture of TPUMadaliev A.A., Trifonov M.Y.National Research Tomsk Polytechnic UniversityLEARNING ENGLISH IN A TECHNICAL UNIVERSITYAS THE QUESTION OF CURRENT INTERESTInnovations in the field of electronics and widespread electronicmedia as the most rapid means of information served as an incentive forthe expansion of the English language. Mass media such as the Internet,television and the press give unlimited access to getting new informationand new spheres of knowledge. And the most important thing is that80 % of the overall information is published in English. In modernconditions it plays a crucial role in the internationalization and integrationof research, generating new knowledge, innovative ideas and the creationof more productive technologies.The reasons for the popularity of the English language can beeasily explained by the historical processes and patterns of sciencedevelopment in England and the United States. War actions of England inthe 18-th century were designed to meet commercial and colonialinterests of the British bourgeoisie. England was able to oust Spain,Holland and France from many of their domains and to create the Britishcolonial empire. England brought India and other colonies under control.That fact created agreeable conditions for accumulating capital andplayed a significant role in the preparation of the industrial revolution.Cultural achievements of the colonized peoples and the availability ofcheap labor, the dominance of the world market and the monopoly ofsales sphere of low-quality goods at inflated prices accelerated theindustrialization. As a result the development of science in England andthe English-speaking countries had been provided.The growth of the number of English-speaking population becamenatural, especially among the nations having been colonized by theformer British Empire. Currently English is the mother tongue of 322million people and the second language for 180 million people. TheEnglish language allows you to feel the world culture better than anyother language [1].Knowledge of English will help you find a common language withforeigners while being abroad. During your trips abroad and excursions86there it will also give you the opportunity to understand the story of theguide without the assistance of a translator. If you know English you willnever get lost in any country and in any unfamiliar environment. You caneasily find the attractions of the city; and, ultimately, it is better to knowthe country in the process of communicating directly with its inhabitants.Obviously, the higher the level of English before coming to thecountry the easier it will be to adapt to the nuances of language inemigration. For example getting education abroad – in any English-speaking country or your desire to immigrate obliges you to take anexamination. Mainly, this examination is IELTS (International EnglishLanguage Testing System) that is recognized by the majority of British,Australian, New Zealand and Canadian educational institutions. The testis designed to assess the knowledge of people who are not the nativespeakers. IELTS tests all skills that are necessary for living, studying andworking in an English speaking environment. It consists of four parts:listening, reading, writing, speech (max – 9 points). For immigration youneed  to  get  a  grade  below  6  (and  for  some  not  less  than  7)  in  all  fourparts.Tomsk Polytechnic University, TPU, is an institution that paysspecial attention to learning a foreign language, English in particular.Currently it has agreements on cooperation in education and researchwith 130 universities in 30 countries, and has bilateral agreements with23 of  57  universities  included in  CESAER,  and 9  of  the  12  universitiesthat are members of CLUSTER [2].The  University  has  55  agreements  on  the  organization  and  theconditions of academic student exchanges with foreign universities,including 44 agreements with European universities, 24 of them havetechnical focus (technical, technological universities, universities ofapplied sciences, etc.). Within the short-term programs of academicmobility you may have the opportunity to participate in cultural andlanguage training, practices (language/training/industrial/undergraduate)in foreign universities or in foreign enterprises in the period from oneweek to two months. The implementation of academic mobility programsis a strategic course on international cooperation in TPU. Participation inmost academic mobility programs requires a certificate of languageproficiency level B2 on the European scale [3].In the practical part of the article there is given a survey ofstudents’ opinion on the necessity to study English at a technical college.The 1st year students (62) and the 2d year students (69) of the Institute ofCybernetics of Tomsk Polytechnic University have been interviewed.The following results have been obtained:87The first part of the research (the first-years students of TPU – 62):– 25 % (16 students) learn English to communicate during a tripabroad;– 18 % (12 students) learn English for the purpose of self-development;– 15 % (10 students) learn English for successful employment inRussia;– 15 % (10 students) plan to work in a foreign company;– 12 % (8 students) plan to study abroad;– 9 % (6 students) plan to emigrate to English-speaking countries.The second part of the research (the second-years students ofTPU – 69):– 26 % (18 students) – learn English to communicate during a tripabroad;– 19 % (13 students) – learn English for the purpose of self-development;– 17 % (12 students) – learn English for successful employment inRussia;– 16 % (11 students) – plan to work in a foreign company;– 10 % (7 students) – plan to study abroad;– 12 % (8 students) – plan to emigrate to English-speakingcountries.There were more options in learning English suggested bystudents themselves such as an opportunity to teach English to their ownchildren, a possibility of successful career growth and an opportunity toread technical literature in English especially those pieces that have notbeen translated into Russian due to some interpretation and translationdifficulties.Thus, we can conclude that 100% of the students having beeninterviewed  are  aware  of  the  need  to  study  English  for  their  furthergrowth and development. The survey results reported that learningEnglish is the issue of current interest. Thus, we have seen that theEnglish language truly presents an international culture. The knowledgeof  this  language  is  the  key  to  a  successful  life  in  modern  society.  Buthaving conducted a survey among the 1st and the 2d year students ofTPU,  we  can  see  that  the  1st  year  students  find  it  necessary  to  masterEnglish for their successful career-to-be but later they change theiropinion on the point. In the process of learning the 2d year students beginto realize that English is not a necessary factor for their self-developmentany more though it is still of importance.88Studying technical disciplines in universities is closely related tothe study of technical English which is very specific. Technicaldocumentation for various foreign instruments is written in technicalEnglish that is why technical texts in English are required to be studied.Technical literature in English is characterized by being sophisticated andhaving complex grammar forms, e. g. passive constructions, infinitives,inversions, etc. It should be remembered that technical texts (books) inEnglish are to be translated so that any expert in a particular technicalarea  keeps  up  with  what  is  going on in  scientific  sphere.  That  is  why atranslator presumably must not know only English, but also shouldpossess some technical knowledge. All this confirms the need to learnEnglish in technical universities which is repeatedly supported even byour own experience [4].References1. ??????????? ??? ??????????? ????? //  Fortune.  2014.  URL:http://www.fortune-center.ru/teaching/kursy-angliyskogo-yazyka/informaciya_ob_angliyskom_yazyke/ (????? ?????????:12.04.2014).2. ?????????????? ????????????? ???? ??????? // ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????. 2014. URL:http://tpu.ru/international/tpu-world/modern-int/ (????? ?????????:13.04.2014).3. International English Language Testing System // British Council. 2014.URL: http://www.britishcouncil.org/tunisia-exams1-ielts.htm (access date:15.04.2014).4. ???????????? ??????? ??? ??????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ??? ??????? //ComEnglish. 2009–20120. URL: http://comenglish.ru/spetsializirovannyy-angliyskiy/tehnicheskie-teksty-na-angliyskom-yazyke (????? ?????????:17.04.2014).Scientific supervisor S.N. Stepura, senior lecturer of TPU

Learning English in a technical university as the question of current interest

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