THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS IN FORMING FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

The relevance of improving methods and techniques of teaching foreign languages for future specialists in tourism and hospitality is determined by the growing number of international contacts, which have become an integral part of professional activity in today’s service industry. Effective development of students’ foreign language competence contributes to increasing their competitiveness in the labor market and providing high-quality services. Integration of digital learning tools into teaching foreign languages becomes a necessary prerequisite for modernization of training specialists in tourism and hospitality. The results of the research show that application of modern technologies creates new opportunities for professional foreign language training, ensures its compliance with international standards of communication in the service industry. For example, mobile learning applications allow students to work through a wide range of professional situations at a convenient time and at their own pace, while virtual and augmented reality technologies provide immersion in professional environment. In their turn, video communication tools and language exchange platforms contribute to development of professionally-oriented speaking skills and intercultural competence, and the use of online services based on artificial intelligence helps to correct pronunciation, spelling, and grammar mistakes. Modern technologies ensure the implementation of the principle of student-centered learning, as they allow adapting the pace and content of learning to individual students’ needs. Interactive digital tools contribute to activation of learning process and increase motivation. In addition, the integration of technologies is helpful for developing digital competence, which is a necessary component of the professional training of competitive specialists in the service industry. It has been theoretically justified that effectiveness of using digital learning tools largely depends on the teacher’s methodological skills and the appropriateness of their integration into the educational process that should take into account the principles of professional authenticity, interactivity and modelling, personalization, and multimodality.