Selecting lexical material while teaching a foreign language to adults - student-oriented approach

Linguistic education means new opportunities for life and career: intercultural communication, writing scientific articles, taking part in conferences, reading special literature. However, adult learners getting additional linguistic education face some psychological and language barriers. The language difficulties are explained by the specific nature of the foreign language as a subject for learning. It is characterized by “limitlessness”, i.e. its volume has no limits, and it doesn’t give any specific information about the reality. The authors suggest some methods to remove the above mentioned barriers. One of such methods is selection of teaching materials based on student-centered approach to education. Student-centered approach means that students discuss their everyday life problems in social, professional, socio-cultural spheres. Such approach is especially important in teaching adults. For teaching materials in student-centered approach the authors use short stories that serve as a good “tool” for mastering a foreign language and bring an additional emotional component to the process of learning. Creating a friendly atmosphere at the lessons is also of particular importance.