THE EFFECTIVENESS OF “WARM-UP ACTIVITIES” AT ENGLISH LESSONS FOR THE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

This research is devoted to the actual problem of using the “warm-up activities” at English classes with first-year students. It is specified that “warm-up activities” (warm-up exercises or communication and game exercises) are short-term activities, which are performed at the beginning or during the lesson that do not require special preparation and are intended to introduce the initial element of the positive adjustment of pupils and the teacher to productive work and full interaction on the given topic. The purpose of the article is to study theoretically the phenomenon of “warm-up activities”, to determine the effectiveness of its application at English classes with the first-year students.It was underlined in the article, that learning any foreign language is determined as a multifunctional, long-term process that requires regularity, and certain creative and emotional moments, which are characterized by scientific and pedagogical representatives as the key directions of introducing the foreign language into the public environment for better adaptation to modern trends of the English language in Ukraine. Choosing the forms of language trainings in order to ensure their effectiveness, the teacher must take into account some general rules: pay attention to the level of foreign language proficiency; to hook the students with a certain technique at the beginning of the lesson in order to promote their interest immediately; “warming up” should be related to the main tasks of the lesson; remember the short duration of “warm-up activities”.It has been established that “warm-up activities” should be used at English language classes, as it builds the joint potential of those who teach and those who study. Keywords: warm-up exercises; “warm-up activities”; positive attitude; foreign language competences; speech skills; interaction.