The use of job-related texts in the professional communication skills development of railway university students in foreign language classes

The study deals with teaching reading for specific purposes within the English language course at the railway (technical) university. The paper focuses on the development of students’ professional communication skills in English language. It discusses the criteria for the selection of authentic reading materials, their arrangement and presentation, learning objectives and teaching techniques for this type of activity. The priority of communicative approach in this regard is exemplified by the possible text assignments that help overcome language difficulties and facilitate text comprehension. The research argues that teaching reading for specific purposes is important as it contributes to the development of students’ professional communication skills. The author concludes that students’ motivation for studying a foreign language is increased through reading and discussing the authentic job-related texts.