TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES TO FUTURE ENGINEERS IN THE MULTILINGUAL SOCIETY

Abstract

Multilingualism is defined as the potentialand/or actual ability to use several languages in varyinglevels of proficiency and for different purposes. The aim ofthe article is to show how this ability can be exploited inengineering education in Tatarstan, which is considered tobe a multilingual society. More than 80% of studentsentering Kazan State Technological University speak threelanguages, although the level of knowledge variesconsiderably. Using their experience of studying languages,analyzing and comparing some language aspects(pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structures, etc.),cultural differences and similarities can be very efficient inforeign language teaching. Training strategies andtechniques of autonomous language learning is of greatimportance as well. The intercultural communicativecompetence of engineering students being taught accordingto such model is well developed.Index Terms - engineering education, interculturalcommunicative competence, multilingualism.