TO THE PROBLEM OF INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING/TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of individualized learning/teaching in higher educational institutions. Taking into account that a learner is an individual and all the innovations help to a degree to improve education and training, we need a system which permits the selection of both the curriculum and the manner in which it will be presented for each individual learner. Individualized learning systems have been developed to accomplish this. The difference between personalization, differentiation and individualization has been explained. The first is learner-centered; the others are teacher-centered. The individualized system is a total educational program incorporating all useful concepts known to enhance the learning process. Its success depends upon an optimal balance between the student’s own self-appraisal and the teacher’s counsel – the student does not progress autonomously in his learning program. The achievement of foreign language training goals by students is closely connected with the implementation of teaching and learning techniques based on concepts of individualization and differentiation in higher education. The foreign language teaching strategies, which can be used both during classroom and self-study work, have been described in the article. The task of a teacher is to find a key to each student, to create an atmosphere of goodwill and the most comfortable conditions for student’s learning in the classroom, to increase students’ motivation and maintain interest for foreign language mastering.