Team-based learning in business English
2017
Stepanova, J., University of Latvia, Riga (Latvia). Management College
Business English is a main language of communication in the international business environment. The implementation of appropriate teaching-learning approach, such as team-based learning, allows students to engage into educational process and demonstrate higher achievements in language acquisition. The aim of the article is to analyze the theory-grounded investigation to trace if the team-based learning is good for Business English teaching and therefore serves as approbation of this stage of the research to continue it, as well as what the priorities are and if the learners accept them. The paper is an example of an interdisciplinary research and lies at the border of such areas as linguistics, educational sciences, sociology and psychology. The article reflects the results of empirical research on team-based learning implementation in Business English course in Latvian Business College where participated 40 first-year students, who mastered their language skills and communicative competences reaching an academic success through this approach. Mixed methods were used as the approach to research design, analysis of scientific literature, questionnaires and observations. Analyzing the results of the research it can be told that team-based learning in teaching Business English proved to be successful tool as it assisted to academic success in linguistics, communication and understanding of the business English discipline through teamwork and critical thinking and majority of students (82-100 %) gave a positive feedback. The research demonstrated that team-based learning gives more freedom and authorizes the students to be more responsible for their own studies and knowledge as the process involves both individual work and teamwork and the contribution to the team is significantly important there. Such self-determination leads to success as in academic studies as in life-long competences and proves team-based learning approach to be a useful and transformative tool for teaching Business English.
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