Computer-mediated communication based English language teaching to academic staff of Belarus and Ukraine in a COVID-19 environment

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online teaching is more important than ever. Synchronous computer-mediated communication is known to be useful when teaching languages. Also when teaching English to Slavic speakers, having a scientific and engineering background, motivating results can be obtained, by using rather standard digital tools (Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint presentations, audio clips and video clips). Three online sessions, mainly focusing on listening and speaking English, have been organized in order to prepare a face-to-face English language course. The trainees listened to a number of interviews and they were stimulated to speak up which avoids a monologue from the teacher. Pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar have also been exercised which increases the level of proficiency in English in the participating Belarusian and Ukrainian universities.