DEVELOPING ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS IN ESP LESSONS AT UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The article examines the role of debates and discussions as an effective tool for developing English speaking skills in higher education institutions within the framework of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) programs. The relevance of the study is determined by modern requirements for professional communication, the globalization of the educational space, and the need to develop students’ interactive competence, which combines linguistic, cognitive, and social components. The paper explores the theoretical foundations of interactive competence, the specifics of its development during oral communication, and the role of debates and discussions in stimulating active communication, critical thinking, and reasoned argumentation. Existing methods of applying debates and discussions in the educational process are analyzed, and the key stages of organizing such activities are identified: the preparatory stage, including mastering relevant vocabulary and language models; the main stage, involving structured debates and discussions; and the reflective stage, involving assessment of performances and student self-analysis. The specificity of applying these methods in the ESP context is highlighted, where topics are selected according to students’ professional specialization and simulate real communicative situations relevant to future professional activities. Based on the analysis of theoretical sources and practical experience, recommendations for organizing debates and discussions are proposed: using team-based and role-based approaches, providing language support in the form of phrase templates and professional vocabulary, gradually increasing the complexity of topics and discussion formats, and incorporating digital technologies for online or blended learning. The proposed model aims to enhance students’ language activity, develop their interactive competence, and foster critical thinking. The prospects for further research include studying the impact of debates and discussions on oral proficiency across different professional student groups, adapting methods for online and blended learning, and experimentally testing the effectiveness of interactive approaches in developing profession-oriented language skills.