COMMUNICATION AND REFLECTION IN TRAINING MASTER STUDENTS

The paper argues that communicative competence and reflective skills are necessary attributes of future managers and expected learning outcomes of university graduates with Master degrees. Though believed seemingly opposite, these core competences can complement each other being developed concurrently and ultimately benefit students' professional competence. The methodology used as the base for elective course design is the theory of step-by-step development of mental actions, the Multiple Intelligence Theory, learning-oriented approach, cooperative learning. Communication is considered the bases for the relations of all participants in the educational process and a fundamental ability to take necessary knowledge and skills from all resources available. Reflection plays the role of means (reflective models, reflective techniques), aim of teaching and learning (developed reflective competence). The authors substantiate the need to arrange a psychologically favorable learning environment. The framework for concurrent development of reflective and communication skills of master students is presented. The research findings provide evidence for positive interdependence of communication and reflection level development. Moreover, delivering the course in the English language has increased its impact on Russian speaking Master students' professional and cross-cultural knowledge, as students are exposed to examples from business practices in Russia and abroad thus providing the opportunities for comparison and evaluation.