Fostering Patriotism in the Process of Teaching a Foreign Language

Introduction . Today the problem of education of a citizen and patriot is highly relevant. Every teacher will say that patriotism is the moral foundation of any modern state. Patriotism gives an impetus to social progress, contributing to the formation of an active personal and civic position. For modern teachers, the process of teaching English allows them to develop a sense of patriotism in the young generation. This is possible due to the emphasis of the scientific discipline both on the communicative component and on the analysis of everyday life, traditions and customs, as well as the language of other nations. The object of the study is civic-patriotic education in the process of teaching a foreign language. The aim of the article is to analyse the existing methods and approaches of patriotism education in higher education and to identify the most effective complex in teaching a foreign language. Materials and Methods . The analysis of philosophical, psychological, pedagogical, methodological, linguistic literature on the studied problem has been carried out; methodological foundations of professional activity of foreign language teachers, educational programmes and methodological manuals have been studied, pedagogical experience in the framework of patriotism education at foreign language lessons has been taken into account. General theoretical methods are applied: analysis, synthesis, method of analogy, modelling, comparative method and complex interdisciplinary approach. Results . Taking into account the level of development of modern youth, we use the following methods of teaching and education in our work: project activities, excursion lessons, extracurricular activities, integrated lessons. Many years of experience show that such activities as preparing presentations about their school, hometown, outstanding people of their small homeland, conducting integrated lessons, excursions, extracurricular activities for Defender of the Motherland Day and Victory Day contribute to the formation of world outlook, civic and patriotic qualities of modern youth. Discussion and Conclusion . Today, the university occupies the most important place in the process of formation of patriotic aspirations in the individual. The most effective educational tools for the formation of patriotic qualities in teaching a foreign language are considered. The scientific results obtained in the process of research can be used in further development of the problems of patriotic education in modern conditions and improvement of the content and methods of teaching foreign languages.