Mobile Learning in Developing Phonetic Competence of Future Interpreters

Abstract

The article considers teaching English phonetics to future interpreters with mobile learning in the light of the competence approach. The authors analyse the possibilities of applying mobile learning as an additional source and demonstrates the feasibility of its implementation in teaching English phonetics. The primary aim of this research is to examine the effectiveness of m-learning on the development of future interpreters' English phonetic competence. Such activities used in mobile learning as "Group Mind Mapping of Key Phonetic Issues", "Creating Event-Glide Calendar as a Guide of a Coursework", "E-Presentations on Teaching and Learning Phonetics", "Real-Time Testing", "Public Pronunciation Assessment", "Different Perception" are described and analysed. During the pedagogical experiment, the criteria (cognitive; pragmatic; reflective), indicators, and levels (high, average and low) of the formation of future interpreters' English phonetic competence through mobile learning were determined. 50 students of the Faculty of English philology and methodology of teaching English at Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University took part in the experiment. The results prove that applying mobile learning in teaching English phonetics provides an opportunity to increase the level of English phonetic competence of future interpreters as well as encourages them for self-development and creative work.