DEVELOPING LEXICAL COMPETENCE IN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THROUGH SCIENCE FICTION READING AS PART OF ESP CURRICULUM

The paper focuses on developing lexical competence in university students of technical education and philology and is aimed at enhancing cognitive abilities, motivation, translation competence, and also providing them with the exposure to technical awareness through reading science fiction literature. The subject matter is shaping an innovative training model of teaching technical students and students of philology who major in technical translation to read science fiction texts. The objective of the research is to identify specific features of teaching technical translation to technical students and students of philology and to develop their lexical competence by science fiction reading. The methods applied are analysis and classification of science fiction literature, theoretical modelling, sampling, content analysis, and categorisation. The sample included two groups of university students: technical students and students of philology who major in technical translation who were given science fiction texts that contained technical terms followed by exercises aimed at learning vocabulary for further reproduction in the academic process and written translations. The findings of this research have shown that science fiction reading as part of ESP curriculum help to maximise effectiveness of the educational strategy within university type of education and to achieve high motivation results in language learners. The results of the study can be widely applicable in teaching technical aspects of translation within university education process.