Organizing Independent Activity in EFL Teaching in Ethnically Diverse Classrooms at the University of the Coal Mining Region

Abstract

Training of highly qualified specialists is a significant factor for the consistent progress in any branch of economics. Kemerovo State University provides training of specialists for the coal mining region in Russia. Nowadays, the University tends to increase the proportion of foreign students as well. Most of these are students from neighboring countries, such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, where raw materials industries, including mining, are developed. Taking into account the multi-ethnic diversity of students at Kemerovo State University, we analyzed the experience and determined the worthwhile forms of organizing independent activity in EFL teaching. Among the forms of independent activity, we introduced independent reading, preparing thematic presentations, written tasks based on video content, and writing thematic essays. Organizing independent work in the educational process, which involves a large number of multinational groups of students, we took into account the following conditions. We considered such particular qualities of contemporary students as their general need in flexible learning environment as well as in self-expression; we took into account their interest in new knowledge and motivation for self- improvement, and at the same time, lack of desire for completing reproductive types of tasks, along with fragmented thinking.