Development of ideas about the teaching method in didactics and linguodidactics

It is crucial for teachers of Russian as a foreign language to investigate the way of development of the ideas about the teaching method in didactics and linguodidactics. Thereby, they can better understand the process of evolution of the scientific thought, its current state and define its prospects. It helps to build a modern theory of teaching that has a practical value. The purpose of this research is to describe the development of the ideas about the teaching method in didactics and linguodidactics, to identify its stages and to analyze the future prospects for the development of the theory of teaching, including the methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language. The research was based on about 80 theoretical works devoted to didactics and linguodidactics and practical guides for teachers, including manuals for teachers of Russian as a foreign language. The author used the methods of conceptual and contextual analysis, and the historical and descriptive research method. Analyzing the sources, the researcher identified three stages of the development of the ideas about the teaching method in didactics and linguodidactics. When the ideas about the teaching method originated (17th-19th centuries), this concept was not defined. However, the term “teaching method” was actively used, as it referred both to the teaching process and to the teacher’s actions in the classroom. At the stage of formation of scientific ideas about the teaching method (20th century), researchers compiled and analyzed empirical data. Different definitions and classifications of the teaching methods were proposed and various theories of teaching methods were developed. At the stage of critical rethinking (21th century), a new theory of teaching was introduced. It included the description of the main features of teaching methods, their functional classification, and recommendations on how to choose and develop a teaching method. The term “teaching method” is polysemantic, which causes a number of problems. If researchers manage to clearly define this term, a great contribution will be made not only to didactics and linguodidactics, but also to the theory of teaching Russian as a foreign language.