Language learning tracking in self-reflexion development with adult learners (foreign language adult learners)

Life-long learning implementation in all the education areas and levels is one of the most important aims of the state policy in Russia. A modern specialist meets new professional and personal challenges: to be successful he is supposed to not only possess hard skills in his professional field, but also master his soft skills, which are often developed at work, at various training including foreign language courses. To achieve high practical result at such courses is impossible without analyzing the adult learners' needs and aiming at the specialists' personality development. The article discusses an electronic technique of progress tracking as a way to increase the effectiveness of language learning and develop self-reflexion with adult learners. It's discussed how progress tracking can be implemented in corporate foreign language learning. Based on concepts of andragogy of development, social development, sociocultural, personality oriented, communication cognitive approaches in methodology the authors see the foreign language self-education competence as the main goal of foreign language learning for adults. To develop the self-reflexion component of the foreign language self-education competence the authors introduce the progress tracking technique as a combination of electronic self-control registers (trackers) in speaking and listening skills acquisition by adults. The registers were created based on the common scientific research methods (logical, theoretical and empiric) and special methods. In the experimental teaching stage (for 112 corporate adult language learners) the authors applied questionnaire methods, observation, formalization, statistical data analysis and Google Forms. The article describes the stages of work with electronic registers and discusses the results of the work for the practical and personality development goals. Listening and speaking learning registers proved to be effective to improve not only practical educational result, but also to increase motivation, develop self-reflexion and other self-improvement qualities of adults while mastering a foreign language. Based on the grounds of the andragogy of self-development the mastery of foreign languages is regarded as a means of personality development and the boost for socially valuable qualities, self-reflexion as one of the means of self-education competence and foreign language communicative competence; the definition of the self-education competence in foreign language learning was specified. The progress tracking technique is developed, described and tested as a means of monitoring and tracking self-progress in language learning and creating one's own way in language learning. The progress tracking technique and electronic registers can be used in teaching adults in any level of the language competence as a means for personal and professional growth. Based on the created registers in listening and speaking it is possible to develop complex registers aimed at making the foreign language competence in all the four skills.