MEANS OF RESEARCH COMPETENCE FORMATION IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING BUSINESS FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

The article examines the means of research competence formation in university students during Business Foreign Language classes. The means of research competence formation through the developing of its key components such as methodological literacy, analytical skills, critical thinking skills and communication skills have been outlined. The development of methodological literacy is seen as a multifaceted process involving the study of the theoretical underpinnings of research, the practical application of methods, the development of critical thinking and data analysis skills. Analytical skills – the ability to process and interpret information – are considered necessary for a deep understanding of language, the effective use of new knowledge and its integration into different contexts. It has been noted that analytical skills help higher education students not only to learn grammar and vocabulary, but also to apply knowledge in real-life situations, to draw logical conclusions and to structure educational information. The development of critical thinking skills is observed as an important element in the successful acquisition of both language and analytical skills. They can be formed by integrating different tasks that encourage students to analyse, evaluate and argue. The development of communication skills is facilitated by the active practice of different formats, with the opportunity not only to learn business vocabulary, but also to master effective strategies of interaction in a work context. The means of developing research competence and its key components in Business English have been indicated. They are discussion of current office work issues, analysis of authentic business texts, translation and interpretation of business documents, presentations (reports), research projects, writing abstracts and business letters.