MUTUAL ATTENDANCE OF TRAINING SESSIONS IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF TEACHING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION OF PEDAGOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article deals with enhancing the quality of teaching a foreign language in higher educational establishments. The article provides an insight into the professional reflection of university teachers, which is considered to be one of the most effective technologies for improving the competence of the teacher and the quality of education. The concept and functions of professional reflection are revealed, the analysis of foreign and Russian literature on this topic is carried out. The practical value of professional reflection in the field of teaching and learning a foreign language is substantiated. Much attention is paid to the role of mutual attendance in professional reflection. The article discusses the organization of mutual attendance and highlights typical problems for universities in conducting and analyzing mutual attendance. The main idea of this work is that the teaching staff of a university can acquire an active research position of their pedagogical activity through mutual attendance, using it as a method of professional reflection. To prove that, the author summarizes the experience of mutual visits of training sessions, analyzes the relationship between the proposed approach to mutual visits and the degree and quality of professional reflection of the teaching staff of a university. The results of the study show that the proposed approach to mutual visits, where emphasis is placed on subsequent detailed feedback, increases the level of professional reflection of teaching staff, allows them to comprehend and evaluate the effectiveness of professional reflection for self-development, which results in the enhanced quality of teaching a foreign language and, consequently, in better academic performance of students. In conclusion, the prospects of mutual attendance for further improvement of education quality are revealed.