Educational potential of the academic discipline “Foreign Language” in the context of sustainable development goals

  • Olga Yu. Shymanskaya Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank

Abstract

Inspired by the reduction in classroom hours allocated for the discipline “Foreign Language” in the system of general higher education, as well as by the request for strengthening the educational potential of academic disciplines and the implementation of the ideas of education for sustainable development in the educational process, we suggest comprehensive value education approach. Comprehensive competency-based tasks should be developed to simultaneously implement learning objectives, value education objectives, and sustainable development goals. In the process of critical review of the requirements stipulated by educational standards, the content of the educational material, as well as the recommendations of the value education documentation, we suggest options for implementing the objectives of education for sustainable development through the learning content and through ways of organizing student activities. Examples illustrate how to develop competency-based tasks, formulate the content of education and the behavioral objectives for the teacher’s ideological work plan.

To assess the effectiveness of implementing the educational potential of the educational discipline “Foreign Language”, the action research method was used, which implied solving educational problems in the system of pedagogical foreign language education. The novelty of the presented material is in the qualitative analysis of educational potential of the academic discipline “Foreign Language” in the context of sustainable development goals at the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Philology, Belarusian State Pedagogical University.

The following forms of content, language, and values integrated learning are described: intellectual battle “National history, heritage, and culture of Belarus”, Relay of opinions “Ecological problems of the Republic of Belarus”, Master class “Spread Awareness, Spread Support”, “Earth Quiz” on Ecology, etc. A rationale for creating an interactive collage is proposed. The paper provides sample coursework and diploma paper topics, as well as competency-based tasks for final certification in the context of sustainable development goals. The described forms, methods and techniques can be used by faculty and staff of tertiary institutions to implement the educational potential of the discipline “Foreign Language” in the context of sustainable development goals.

Author Biography

Olga Yu. Shymanskaya, Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank

PhD (philology), docent, associate professor at the department of foreign languages, faculty of philology.

References

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Published
2024-10-31
Keywords: action research, higher education, education for sustainable development, value education, competency- based approach, foreign language teaching, information-rich learning environment
How to Cite
Shymanskaya, O. (2024). Educational potential of the academic discipline “Foreign Language” in the context of sustainable development goals. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology, 3, 4-10. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/ecology/article/view/6387
Section
Social and Environmental Problems of Sustainable Development