ABSTRACTING OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEXTS AS A MEANS OF INFORMATION PROCESSING

One of the methods of foreign language teaching at higher educational establishments is the development of the skills of analytic and synthetic information processing by means of a foreign language. It deals with creative processes that include comprehension, analysis and assessment of the text content in the state language for the implementation of selecting necessary information and further interpretation. The process of abstracting of a foreign language text corresponds to achievement of these goals, and therefore, abstracting is a creative linguistic and intellectual process of analytical processing of textual information based on speech competence.

The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of abstracting of a foreign language text as a means of information processing and to describe methods of its teaching at higher educational establishments.

On the basis of the conducted research it is established that the process of its teaching should be directed, consistent, with full awareness and thorough elaboration of each stage. Abstracting is a rational method of processing the content of the text, so it is expedient to use the following exercises when teaching to write abstracts: highlighting keywords and sentences; answers to questions that contribute to the synthesis of the text; simplifying the structure of complex common sentences; generalization of the content and selection of the main idea of each paragraph; drawing up a logical outline of the text; division of the text into the introduction, the main part and the conclusion. As a preparatory work, such techniques as dividing the text into semantic passages, heading these passages and drawing up a plan; abridgement of the text; lexical, grammatical and semantic paraphrase are recommended. Thus, in the process of abstracting foreign language texts, students develop their skills of reading, oral and written speech, analytical, critical and creative abilities. The acquired skills and abilities of scientific processing of texts make it possible to use foreign sources in the process of mastering the speciality and promote professional self-improvement.