Scholarly record

METHOD OF PROJECTS AS A BASIS FOR THE SIMULATION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (BASED ON THE "GARDEN" PROJECT ON LANDSCAPE DESIGN)

M. Avdonina, N. Zhabo, E. Krivosheeva

Abstract

The theme chosen by us (in this case, learning French language by Russian students of Agro-Technological Institute and Environmental faculty of RUDN University, Moscow) should make an accent on cultural aspects of gardening helping students to solve their life and professional situation, to be integrated into the professional world community. The main theoretical position is the idea that the incorporation of historical and cultural aspects helps to form flexibility and tolerance, and at the same time, self-belief which are the conditions of employability in a changing world. Students change the stereotypes of communication. By participating in the project, students do not get a ready answer, but understand the question itself, and learn to see the intention, the position of the partner of communication, identify the core and the periphery of the problem under discussion. The report discusses the medium-term project "Garden", which includes the following topics: First, modern attitude to the treasures of the French garden crops that the generations of gardeners created: 1. The history of gardening in France: a) The journey of the estate Villandry in the Loire Valley (the concept of the medieval garden: potager, jardin des herbes); b) the medicinal properties of herbs (lavender), the symbolism of mazes (diagrams are drawn by the audience in the hall). 2. The plants, which were popular in medieval cuisine, but disappeared from modern table: the cuisine of a restaurant at the Tour Eiffel in Paris with vegetable Crosne du Japon. 3. Vertical gardening: a) aquaponics; b) vertical garden designs. Second, topics related to Russia, since they have a personal meaning for each student, their own attitude, often highly emotive even if they cannot argue their position. The basis for the selection of material is our desire to incorporate the theme of Russian gardening in the world culture which requires a special tactful form: we strive to avoid over-critical judgments or, on the contrary, self-glorification. Lesson leaves a deep impression. Feedback from students: they learn to identify themselves with the creator of the garden design and dream about their future international design work. The project's objective is to prepare them for the perception and interpretation discovering that those attitudes and evaluations that have been settled and no more discussed in the native culture, could and might be discussed, to perceive a new and a strange fact with greater openness and interest, but at the same time critically analyze the accuracy of the material. In the course of project execution are implemented the following linguistic competences: - formal and informal communication skills; - the skills of listening foreign speech; - dialogical communication skills.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/SGEMSOCIAL2017/HB31/S10.019

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