Keyword: «instructional potential of digital learning tools»

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the significance of digital learning tools in university students’ foreign language training. The authors have established that all digital learning tools can be divided into the following categories: training, simulators, information retrieval and reference engines, demonstrational, imitational, laboratory, modelling, calculational, educational games. Digital resources used in foreign language training are integrated learning tools, i.e. they are simultaneously simulators, educational games, information retrieval and reference engines, training, modelling and other kinds of learning tools. Due to their considerable instructional potential and a variety of ther edifying functions, digital learning tools play a significant role in foreign language training of university students, while their capabilities are rapidly expanding as a result of constant improvement of digital technologies, methods of their application in foreign language teaching and digital literacy of teachers and students. However, at this stage of their development, they cannot fully replace student-teacher face-to-face interactions in the process of foreign language acquisition.