Tatiana S. Larina

The rapid development of information technologies leads to their wide penetration into various spheres of society. In the last three years, the education system has been subjected to the maximum impact of this aspect. Under the influence of objective reasons, the traditional format of face-to-face classes has been replaced by distance learning, which has made significant adjustments to the system of the educational process organization. The relevance of the new phenomenon in mass education is also evidenced by the presence of various terms. Distance, remote or online learning implies the use of modern information technologies. The greatest difficulties arise in the case of teaching a foreign language, which is due to the specificity of the discipline and the communicative orientation of learning. For this reason, one of the main tasks in organizing a distance format is the choice of a communication platform that allows classes to be conducted in accordance with the main didactic principles. The aim of this study is to make a comparative analysis of four available domestic communication platforms (Sberjazz, Yandex. Telemost, Kontur. Talk and TruConf) and evaluate their functionality in relation to foreign language teaching based on the criteria identified in a previous study based at MGIMO of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The testing of the platforms under consideration was conducted in German language classes with undergraduate students of MGIMO University. The article was prepared using general scientific methods of collecting and analyzing information, as well as the method of classification. As a result of the comparative analysis, the authors conclude that the Kontur. Talk platform has the greatest advantage. Its use in the organization of distance foreign language classes seems to be the most optimal option and allows to ensure the implementation of the main didactic principles. The theoretical significance of the study is seen in the proposed criteria for classifying communication platforms. The study may be in demand by teachers when choosing a communication platform for conducting foreign language classes in the distance learning format.

Due to the increasing interest in the international legal profession in the context of globalisation, there is a growing demand for legal education programs that involve not only the study of domestic and foreign law by students, but also their preparation for participation in international events, involving excellent knowledge of a foreign language. However, in a short study period, the task of mastering a foreign language at a level sufficient to carry out professional communication in the field of law is challenging. The present study addresses the issue of early professionalisation of future international lawyers, which would allow them to start mastering the basics of law not only within special disciplines, but also in the early stages of foreign language learning. In order to motivate students when working with complex professional vocabulary in a foreign language, this article proposes the use of a special type of text similar to legal texts, namely the public sign. The topicality of the research is proved by the world experience in the field of early professionalization of lawyers, however in pedagogical practice (domestic and foreign) there is no experience of teaching lawyers a foreign language using a public sign, which is certainly a scientific novelty of the present research. The aim of the study is to develop methodological recommendations and techniques for working with public signs in the German lesson with future international lawyers. The main theoretical methods were used in the work: analysis, comparison, generalization of the results of domestic and foreign research as well as the method of analysis of authentic public signs selected for educational purposes. The main results of the article include a number of tasks and methodological recommendations for working with the comprehensible text type "public sign". The theoretical significance of the research is seen in the comprehensive study of culture and language in the process of their mutual functioning. The practical value lies in the fact that the use of a public sign as a text, which in addition to the verbal component also includes an image, helps ease the difficulties of students who are just beginning to learn a foreign language to master the complex legal vocabulary in the target language. The proposed set of tasks can be used in pedagogical practice in German lessons when teaching lawyers at a non-linguistic university.