INNOVATIVE INTERACTIVE QUIZ AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ VISUAL CULTURE IN ESL CLASSES

The article deals with the topical issue of developing students‟ visual culture in the process of teaching foreign languages with the help of innovative multimedia technologies. It is obvious that the teaching methods used in the past do not work in contemporary society and do not meet its needs. An interactive multimedia quiz “English Ice-Breakers” was created with the help of FrontPage programme. It is an introductory lesson quiz allowing freshmen to develop their visual culture, revise their knowledge acquired in school, and socialize in the new environment. The interviews and questionnaires for students which we have been offering for several years prove that the efficiency of visual culture of first-year students can be greatly increased with the help of interactive teaching aids rich in visual images, which activate the visual analyzers and are convenient for visual perception, for example, colourful illustrations, diagrams, tables, etc. The article describes in detail the algorithm of an introductory lesson. The main peculiarities of using a new technology in the educational process are highlighted taking the subject “Foreign language” as an example. The conclusion is made that the visual culture of students can become more effective if an innovative multimedia teaching material is used, as it helps to develop independent thinking, activates learning activities and cognitive interests. The principles of visualizing the quiz “English Ice-Breakers” as a teaching material are of interest for a wide range of teachers. The advantages of using visualization materials are emphasized. Multimedia quizzes can be used in any educational institution of an innovative type which is involved in solving the problems of modernizing the education system. They can be used when teaching all types of speech activities aimed at developing the visual culture and successful intercultural communication skills of a bilingual or multilingual personality.