THE ETERNAL QUESTION IN TEACHING METHODOLOGY: WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH READING INTEREST OF FOREIGN STUDENTS AND RUSSIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS?

The article deals with one of the problems of contemporary didactics and methodology – lack of reading interests of both foreign students and the majority of Russian pupils. The article presents an attempt to explain a number of reasons that led to the decrease of interest in reading in general. Special attention is given to the fact that implementation of EU competences related to the life in a multicultural society is often associated with the process of reading literature in other languages. It is emphasized that the attitude towards reading among foreign students and Russian schoolchildren is significantly different, which is associated with the level of language proficiency. The leading methods in the study were the following: analysis of scientific and bibliographic literature on the topic; direct practical, so-called “field” methods: questioning; monitoring students and teenage pupils who come to the library; data analysis of the library in the institute and at school; mathematical methods of processing the results. The article presents the conclusions made on the acute problem discussed, which are based on the results of the respondents' interview survey (15 questions in the questionnaire in total) and direct teaching of the Russian language and literature. The article concludes that foreign students often do not distinguish Russian authors from other foreign writers and poets. A number of specific measures are suggested to draw students' interest to language, literature and reading. It is pointed out that children's short moralizing stories should be recommended to foreign students for reading, they can arouse interest in the art of using words, provide linguistic and cultural knowledge and skills.