The use of mind maps for teaching vocabulary and developing oral speech at a military university

Importance. The current situation requires new approaches to help students acquire the necessary skills of professional communication. The development of visual, cognitive means of training military specialists, which includes the technology of mind maps, seems to be relevant.Materials and Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research includes the studies of V.F. Shatalov, E.V. Budaev, Т. Buzan, H. Muller, A.R. Kamaleeva, O.A. Kondratenko and others.Results and Discussion. The current paper has analyzed the distinctive features of mind maps: the presentation of information using non-linear schemes based on the principle of associative thinking. The advantages of using mind maps in the process of teaching oral communication are revealed: increased learners' attention and cognitive interest; ensuring a deeper understanding of the educational material; rationalization of the educational process; development of self-control skills; development of intellectual and creative potential. The types and variants of using mind maps for the study of terminological vocabulary, which seems to be the basis for the production of both dialogic and monologue professionally oriented speech, are considered. The stages of dealing with mental cards for teaching vocabulary and developing oral speech in a military university are formulated.Conclusion. The results of the study have shown that the use of the technology of mind maps makes it possible to gain lexical material as efficiently as possible, extract key information from the text and present it in the form of a speech. It seems that the considered cognitive-visual approach makes it possible to effectively solve the problems of foreign language teaching at a military university.