PERCEPTION OF HEURISTIC TASKS BY ECONOMICS STUDENTS AS A FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF THEIR RESEARCH COMPETENCIES IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The article presents a study of perception of heuristic tasks by economics students as a factor in the formation of their research competencies in the process of learning a foreign language. Based on the classification of heuristic tools by cognitive, emotional and behavioral orientation, a survey of 42 students and graduates of economics at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia was conducted. The results showed that tasks using heuristic tools of all three directions arouse high interest, however, their professional usefulness and contribution to the formation of research competencies are evaluated differentially: tasks using heuristic tools of cognitive and behavioral orientation are perceived as more significant for future professional activity, while tasks using heuristic tools of emotional orientation – as less obviously related to the formation of research competencies, but playing a motivating role. The results of the study confirm that the perception of heuristic tasks used in the process of teaching a foreign language is an essential factor in the formation of research competencies among economics students. The authors conclude that taking this factor into account allows the teacher to design and plan a foreign language course more consciously and create conditions for the effective formation of research competencies among economics students.