Information technologies in teaching foreign languages in a higher school (blended learning model)

The paper explores specific characteristics and advantages of blended learning in the process of teaching English as a foreign language at university level in comparison with traditional forms of education. The article collates different points of view in Russia and abroad on defining ‘blended learning' which is understood by the authors as a modern universal educational method comprising traditional technologies and electronic way of learning and which meets individual demands of learners. It is suggested that interactivity should be considered as a principle realized in education that gives the teacher a possibility to organize the process of learning in a more effective way and provides the student's involvement in active communicative activity. Besides, it creates a high level of motivation in mastering a subject. Interactive learning contributes to interaction among students and leads to their immersion in real atmosphere of business cooperation. Interaction in this case means the opposite of influence in order to escape the model of asymmetric relations between teachers and students. Based on the results published by researchers specializing in the field of information technologies and considering their own experience in designing an electronic resource for HSE students, the authors conclude that implementation of a blended learning course in the university curriculum is able to increase the effectiveness of students' results in professional foreign language acquisition.