Foreign languages further education in Russia in the context of globalization: social aspect

The article is based on the experience of teaching foreign languages at the “Language center”, a structural department of South Ural State University. The author dwells upon the history of further education in the sphere of theory and practice of foreign languages of the past 25 years in respect of its relevance for representatives of various social, age and professionally oriented groups of the Russian population. The analysis of the obtained materials provides statistical data that demonstrate the degree of interest in learning specific European languages (English, Italian, Spanish, German, French) or Oriental languages (Arabic, Chinese) in different periods of time, reflecting the stages of Russia's integration into the international cultural and economic community. The article also shows the research results of the motivation level of various social groups to have further education in foreign languages (including such factors as age, sphere and level of basic education, etc.).