INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO STUDENTS IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT OF A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

The article investigates the content of innovative practices and the role of digital technologies in teaching English to higher education students. The research topic is important in view of the need to ensure quality learning, teaching and use of English in higher education institutions. The issue of introducing innovative practices to form students’ need to learn English and master it as a means of communication, cognition, self-realization and social adaptation in a multicultural world is relevant. It is based on the awareness of the importance of learning English as a means of communication and cognition in the modern world, increasing students’ competitiveness in the course of economic and social European integration. The purpose of the study is to analyze innovative practices for teaching English to students in the digital environment of a higher education institution. In accordance with the purpose, the following tasks were solved: 1) to define the content of innovative practices for teaching English; 2) to highlight the theoretical and methodological aspects of implementing innovative practices and digital technologies in teaching English at university; 3) to summarize domestic and foreign innovative practices for teaching English to students in the digital environment of a higher education institution. The subject of the research is innovative practices in teaching English to students. The research methodology was based on the analysis and synthesis, generalization of scientific and methodological literature, government documents, concepts; periodicals, pedagogical publications, Internet resources to systematize the modern pedagogical experience of domestic and foreign higher education institutions on innovative practices in teaching English to students; testing, self-analysis and self-assessment in the study of the disciplines “Practice of Oral and Written Speech”, “English For Special Purposes”, “Methods of Teaching English”, “Technologies of Teaching English”. Results of the survey identified the following innovative practices in English language teaching: online platforms allow the use of mobile applications and web platforms to organize interactive exercises, video lessons, testing, and communication with native speakers; virtual reality aims to create an immersive environment where students are engaged in virtual travel, communication, etc.; gamification involves the use of gaming tools to engage students and stimulate active learning; collaboration and real-time communication uses cloud services to collaboratively create and edit texts, video or audio materials; adaptive learning takes into account the individual needs and learning pace of each student, ensuring optimal learning. Practical implications. The practical significance of the results involves the effective use of digital technologies to improve the process of teaching English. The identified innovative digital technologies can be used in teaching English to students. Value/originality. The value of the work is that the introduction of the experience of using innovative digital technologies in the educational process improves the quality of English language teaching and contributes to the development of professional language competencies of higher education students.