Current Issue

The digital era has firmly entered the modern educational process bringing a variety of distance learning platforms (technologies). The intensive use of web technologies has also affected the field of foreign language teaching. The introduction of modern methods based on cloud-based technologies in higher education is due to the fact that traditional learning process does not fully meet the requirements of the modern reality both in the forms of its organization and its methods . The aim of this paper is to describe cloud-based technologies used in foreign language classes at Tambov State Technical University and identify the advantages and drawbacks of using these technologies. In addition to the main university platform, which provides ample opportunities in the context of foreign language teaching, examples of additional web services, showing their effectiveness in working with students of non-linguistic universities, are presented. Over the past 20 years, computer technology has made a huge leap forward. Due to the pandemic reality, a di stant format of education, including online meeting platforms and various web technologies, is in demand because it allows to ensure a high level of learning accessibility. The introduction of modern methods based on cloud-based technologies in higher education is due to the fact that traditional learning process does not fully meet the requirements of the modern reality bo th in the forms of its organization and its methods; therefore, students are not ab le to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills [1, 2]. Undoubtedly, a comple te transition to e-learning seems to be ineffective, especially in rela tion to assessment of students’ knowledge; therefore, it is much more efficient and productive to use blended learning forms. Воякина Елена Юрьевна – кандидат филологических наук , доцент кафедры «Иностранные языки и профессиональная коммуникация », e-mail: voyackina.elena@ yandex.ru, ТамбГТУ , г. Тамбов , Россия . УНИВЕРСИТЕТ им. В.И. ВЕРНАДСКОГО . №4(82). 2021. 147 The digital education ecosystem is currently under development and cannot yet be considered a finalized, looped system, while the digitalization process of education is gaining momentum and spreading rapidly among Russian educational institutions, including self-developing educational ecosystems, virtual academic mobility, choice of individual learning paths, a single digital platform for collaborative research, global educational platforms, etc. [3]. Today, it is hard to imagine a modern lesson, especially a foreign language lesson, without using a whiteboard, a projector, or a computer allowing to apply various web tools and authentic Internet resources, which, in turn, contribute to the development of students’ communication skills and professionally significant competencies. The modern st ate of foreign language teaching is characterized by the constant search for new teaching forms and models combining well-chosen educational materi al, learning environment and modern information technologies which help the teacher activate students’ thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinki ng, modeling and self-evaluation skills. A large number of authentic, constantly updated materials allow students to get acquainted with authentic forei gn language speech and use authentic patterns in students’ own speech. Various types of authentic texts such as news feeds, newspaper and magazine articles, blogs, reviews, Ted talks, etc. allow choosing the most interesting and releva nt educational material for students. Internet resources provide students with “an opportunity for intercultural communication, which contributes to overcoming stereotypes and develops their socio-cultural to lerance” [4]. Most students positively assess the opportunity to communicate with nativ e speakers online, do additional individual assignments on web platforms, which develops the student autonomy and motivates students to take new steps in foreign language learning. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of cloud-based technologies in the digital education ecosy stem in higher education institutions, in particular, at Tambov State Technical University, and to identify the advantages and drawbacks of using these technologies in foreign language teaching. Web technologies have been increasingly used in foreign language education. One of the varieties of such technologies is cloud-based computing, which, in fact, is another way to implement the declared skills of students, to expand the boundaries of information and communication competencies, as well as foreign language competencies [5]. In addition, cloud technologies are a convenient tool for a teacher that help s organize the pedagogical interaction of students. The most widely used cloud-based technologies implemented in foreign language teaching are the Google services (Google Docs, Google Mail, Google Translate, Google Groups, Google Talk, Google Labs), Moodle, etc. The advantages of such kinds of technologies in the foreign language educational and cognitive process are the following: 1) interactivity – cloud-based technologies help create interaction between all participants of the educational process; 2) complementarity – cloud-based t echnologies penetrate all areas of the educational process and can be used bot h in foreign language classes and during out-of-class language learning such as individual work; 3) visibility – cloud-based services a llow students and the teacher getting instant access to the results of both gr oup and individual work, for example, when making a presentation