THE USE OF MIND MAPS AS A TOOL FOR VISUALIZING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL IN DEVELOPING LANGUAGE AND SPEECH COMPETENCE IN FOREIGN STUDENTS

The article addresses the use of mental maps as a tool for structuring data in a visual format to facilitate effective perception, comprehensive understanding, and retention of educational material content in the Ukrainian language for non-native speakers. The study presents an analysis of scientific approaches to the theory of radial thinking, identifying principles for creating and leveraging mental maps in teaching.The method of mental mapping is emphasized as an effective strategy for organizing and retaining information in students’ memory, ensuring its efficient retrieval when needed. The primary applications of mental maps for enhancing comprehension of educational material are outlined and substantiated. Definitions are formulated, and the functional characteristics of mental maps are highlighted.The article proposes specific methods for incorporating mental maps into Ukrainian language instruction for foreign students in higher education institutions, focusing on the development of lexical and grammatical skills. A contemporary analysis of the educational process, supported by numerous studies, demonstrates that creating mental maps stimulates memory, and allows students to identify core issues, and establish relationships. Moreover, the use of graphic visualization tools enhances the understanding of educational content and promotes more effective assimilation of acquired knowledge. The study revealed that the use of the mind mapping method facilitates comprehensive exploration and formulation of any topic, enabling its examination from multiple perspectives based on a clear factual foundation. Mind mapping technology is identified as an accessible tool for students, educators, and researchers. It can be applied in various forms depending on the objectives, whether individually or in groups, during classroom or extracurricular activities.Today, mind maps have gained further development and widespread adoption through digital services. The study provides detailed attention to specific platforms for creating mind maps and includes original examples developed using three different services: MindMup, Coggle, and SpiderScribe. Examples of mind maps addressing lexical topics (e.g., «Seasons», «Appearance») and grammatical topics (e.g., «Noun Gender») are presented. Additionally, the conditions important for the effective integration of mind maps into the educational process are outlined. Key words: mental map, information visualization, creativity, Ukrainian as a foreign language, higher education institution, professional training.