The effectiveness of the grammar-translation method of teaching a foreign language at a non-linguistic university (using the example of teaching English to students majoring in “Tourism” and “Hotel business”)

The purpose of the study is to show the effectiveness of the grammar-translation method of teaching a foreign language at a non-linguistic university. The article contains the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of the grammar-translation method when teaching English at Russian State University of Tourism and Service and the effectiveness of this method. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time, based on the experience of teaching English to students majoring in “Tourism” and “Hotel business”, the main advantages and disadvantages of the grammar-translation method have been identified. It has been proven that the grammar-translation method of teaching English is especially effective provided that the communicative method is used at the same time. It has been established that at different stages of learning English, one of these methods dominates. It is also emphasized that the effectiveness of the grammar-translation method of teaching to students majoring in “Tourism” and “Hotel business” depends on the initial level of students' proficiency in English and the purpose of classes: learning and repeating grammar rules or professional vocabulary for oral communication. Some advantages of the grammar-translation method are the following ones: creating the required framework for understanding and acquiring the grammatical system of the English language, teaching (business) writing skills and skills of reading texts on general and professional topics. The disadvantages of the grammar-translation method include poor skills of using the professional vocabulary and poor communication skills of students, both on general and professional levels.