TATAR STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The research deals with the problems of the Tatar language interference in the process of the English language learning. The problem of language transfer and interference has been studied by many researchers such as Uriel Weinreich, Noam Chomsky, David Crystal and others. The aim of our research is to describe the experience of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University staff who work with Tatar-speaking students learning English as a foreign language. The author outlines the aspects of the Tatar language that facilitate or complicate the process of teaching English. The comparative analysis of the phonetic system of the Tatar and English languages made it possible to reveal similarities and differences in the pronunciation system of the languages. The author thinks that the results of the research will help the professors to predict the complications and possible mistakes of the students and thus avoid them. The author has studied the works of scholars and teachers' experience and arranged the information in order. Among the major findings we can indicate that it is easier to learn English for those students whose mother tongue is Tatar not Russian and it is easy to master English pronunciation. The author comes to the conclusion that many errors are consequences of assimilation of the native language. Thus, these results extend the knowledge of the professors' and help the students learn English quicker and more effectively.