THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Abstract

A modern university answering the challenges of the society does not remain aloof to introduce certain inclusive practices. Currently, the legislation of the Russian Federation clearly distinguishes between the concepts of “Disability”, “Special health opportunities “and” Special educational needs”. However, there is a demand to combine all three terms into one, that is “Special educational needs”. The author considers this substitution to be unlawful. The article attempts to analyze each term from the point of view of prospects for each group of students to get higher education, taking into account the peculiarities of their psychophysical development. In addition, the author reviews some difficulties (insufficient technical equipment of the classrooms, learned helplessness of students, lack of knowledge about various nosological groups of disabled people, etc.) and ways to overcome these and other problems such as development of an adapted educational program, compliance with the principles of health conservation, psychological readiness of the teaching staff to work with such students. The author draws the conclusion that only training of teachers and the creation of a special educational space, the inadmissibility of a formal approach to the integration of students with special educational needs can contribute to the successful provision of their right to education.