Officers' foreign language training in educational and information environment of the Higher Military Educational Institution

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a blended learning method on the development of foreign language communicative competence of the officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the educational and information environment of a Higher Military Educational Institution. The foreign language training was carried out at 11 military educational institutions. Nineteen foreign language teachers were enrolled who conducted face-to-face training in an online virtual class and used the Moodie platform of the National Defence University of Ukraine named after Ivan Cherniakhovskyi for distance learning. Such a combination of the components (face-to-face and distance learning) provided the opportunity for them to implement effectively the case study and project-based learning activities in an online virtual class and to use simultaneously the information and communication tools of an educational and information environment. In the study, a 'pre-test-post-test' experimental research design was used. The data collection tool was a proficiency language test according to NATO STANAG 6001 requirements. A difference between the two stages in favour of the results gained after conducting the investigation was revealed. Therefore, it is stated that integrating information and communication technology tools in foreign language training will have positive effects on both the teachers and officers to help them be aware of the modern tools of the information and educational environment.