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Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages
THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTRY RESEARCH PROJECT FOR
DEVELOPING LANGUAGE SKILLS
Murodova Farangiz Feruzovna
SamSIFL, faculty of English,
teacher of the department of English language
Abstract
:
this article states about the importance of country research project for
developing language skills. The author confirms that students' aspiration to know about history,
culture, art, customs, lifestyle of the people, belief and others of the country of the learned
language can be satisfied by using country specific materials at lessons. Education by means of a
foreign language presupposes knowledge of the culture, history, religions and traditions of the
country of the studied language. The author claims that, by obtaining two aspects the process of
learning languages becomes more comfortable and convincing because of the real imaginative
environment created within the given aspects.
Keywords
:
country research project, country study, social and economic position, traditions,
cognitive, social-cultural competence, integrated skills, approach to learning, discipline,
language unit, foreign language, vocabulary.
It is important that we teach our students to embrace and respect differences and to
become aware of the world outside their own neighborhoods, communities, state, and country.
One way to allow students the chance to learn about and interact with the world is through a
country research project. We are so lucky because the internet can allow us to temporarily
immerse ourselves in another country. Country research can be carried out in so many ways and
I hope that this article gives you some ideas on your country research unit.
Considerable reserves of increasing efficiency of educational and speech activities at
lessons of a foreign language are also connected with this. Methodic aspect of teaching foreign
languages, in which the methods of making students acquainted with a new culture are
investigated, is called country study. Country study presents information about social and
economic position of the country and people whose language has become a subject of learning,
and about customs, traditions, cultural values which are specific to this nation. Using country
specific information at language lessons has applied character. It is included in the system of
lessons in the process of acquaintance of students with the content and forms of speech
communication of native speaker of the learned language. Such information provides not only
with cognitive but also communicative needs of students favoring the formation of
communicative and social-cultural competence [1, 45].
In simple terms, as part of social studies, students create a report on a country by
researching facts about it. Their country report could be a wide range of presentation mediums
such as a written project, an oral presentation, a poster, worksheets, a performance or even a
video, you can be as creative as you like! Student can use a range of methods to research their
chosen country. This could be through books, the internet, interviews or from teaching
presentations and information sheets. It is so important that we teach students about different
cultures to their own and to accept and respect differences, as well as to look for the similarities
between us all. This is especially important in the interconnected world we live in today. A
noticeable difference in the stock of this information among speakers of different languages is
mainly determined by the different material and spiritual conditions of existence of the
respective peoples and countries, the peculiarities of their history, culture, social and political
system, etc. Thus, it became generally accepted that there is a need to deeply understand the
specificity of the country of the language being studied, and thus the need for a country studies
approach as one of the main principles of teaching foreign languages [2, 18].
First of all, other countries are learning about us and there is power in knowledge.
Learners are generally curious about other countries and cultures so it isn’t hard to get them
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Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages
excited about this project but sometimes we need to help them see the importance of the research
they will conduct. Here are some points you might want to discuss before starting your unit:
learning about other cultures helps us to understand differences
learning about cultures helps us to understand that there are different ways of
doing things and it is ok
learning about countries helps us to see how people form culture because of the
location of their country
learning about countries helps us to learn more about our own country
learning about countries makes us more globally aware and knowledgeable
learning about countries helps us appreciate the world because in the end, we are
all human beings – we all love, laugh, cry and bleed
Some students will have no trouble choosing which country to research but some will
struggle. You can help them by reminding them that they might want to research a country their
ancestors come from, somewhere they always wanted to visit, a country whose food they love to
eat, when all else fails they can spin a globe and put a finger on it! There is also this great
website that generates random countries that the student can choose from.
How to do a country research project?
A research project on a country may be part of your curriculum, or you may teach the
project as part of a whole school cultural week. Alternatively, you could set the project as
homework for your class. It’s also a great idea to use the project to support learning across other
subject areas. For example, students could use the knowledge they gain from their country study
and use it in their writing, such as a story setting or an information text. Students could recreate
art from the country or develop map skills.
What to include in a country research project?
This is the fun part! You may wish your students to lead their own research and report on
the areas that interested them, or you may wish to give some guidance. Some great ideas for your
research project on a country could include:
map work
key facts
food; cuisine
language
sightseeing
art
sport
I think this is one of the most important units in elementary school because the roots will
run deep and students will remember their learning for a long time. When the world is becoming
increasingly globally aware we are helping our students to grow and learn beyond their own
boundaries.
Conducting Country Research
The next part is helping them to conduct the research. In general, when elementary
students are conducting research, it helps to give them a lot of guidance. My packet guides
students in researching relevant and important information regarding the country with enough
fun fact-finding to keep it fun and engaging. You can download the GOOGLE SLIDES
document for free to use in your classroom. It helps by giving students a space to save their
research media allowing them quick access when they prepare their final project and paper.
To conclude, studying the country of whose language you are learning is crucial for
effective communication, avoiding cultural misunderstandings, and appreciating the beauty and
richness of the language. The culture of English-speaking countries is diverse and complex, and
it is shaped by their history, geography, and social norms. By learning about the culture of these
countries, you can gain a deeper understanding of the language and the people who speak it.
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Moreover, without country studies, our world would be nothing more than an endless sea
of strangers with no common ground to stand on. We need these comprehensive analyses to
break down barriers and build bridges across borders.
one cannot deny the personal growth that comes with delving deeply into another culture
through country studies. Learning about new foods, art forms, music styles and ways of dressing
can broaden one’s mind considerably.
Overall, the benefits of engaging in Country Studies are numerous- it allows for greater
cross-cultural awareness; helps understand global issues better; and fosters personal growth – all
while providing an enriching educational experience!
References:
1.
Anna Malofeeva: 29.03.2023, 17:48:23 en-US. Why Is It Important to Study the
Culture of the Country of the Language Being Studied?
2.
Galskova N.D. Modern methods of teaching foreign languages. M.: ARKTI, 2003.
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3.
Holly Rachel. Article, February 17, 2022 How to Teach a Country Research.
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Klimanova O. A. Country ctudies: from the typical characteristics to the analysis
of
regional
problems:
[presentation].
(In
Russ.).
URL:
https://events.prosv.ru/uploads/2016/09/additions/ZBSxxUCoqxP67yC8J2f4s7earCkV8FsiqFnZ
oteF.pdf (accessed date: 15.02.2024).
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Treivish A. I. Country studies: a team with no coach? Problems of composition,
methodology and development. // Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law.
2021.
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фразеологизмов с именами собственными. ББК 74.48 Р76, 208.
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практики, (6 (19)), 342-348.
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