Akhmetkaliyeva K. B., Anasheva D.K.

Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan

The topicality of the distance education in the foreign language teaching at the modern stage.

In the recent years the approaches to teaching called distance education will become increasingly widespread. But how much do we know about this field of education?

Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom. It has been described as "a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both." Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason (including taking examinations) have been referred to as hybrid or blended courses of study.

Distance education dates to at least as early as 1728, when "an advertisement in the Boston Gazette... 'Caleb Phillips, Teacher of the new method of Short Hand" was seeking for students to be sent weekly.

Modern distance education initially relied on the development of postal services in the 19th century and has been practiced at least since Isaac Pitman taught shorthand in Great Britain via correspondence in the 1840s. The University of London claims to be the first university to offer distance learning degrees, establishing its External Program in 1858.

The development of computers and the Internet have made distance learning spreading easier and faster and gave the rise to the 'virtual university, the entire educational offerings of which are conducted online. In 1996 Jones International University was launched and claimed to be the first fully online university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the US.

The types of technologies used in distance education are divided into two groups: synchronous learning and asynchronous learning.

Synchronous learning technology is a way of delivery where all participants are "present" at the same time. It resembles traditional classroom teaching methods despite the participants being located separately. It requires a timetable to be organized. Web conferencing, videoconferencing, Educational television, Instructional television are examples of synchronous technology, as are direct-broadcast satellite (DBS), internet radio, live streaming.

The asynchronous learning way of delivery is the way where participants access to course materials on their own schedule and so is more flexible. Students are not required to be together at the same time. Mail correspondence, which is the oldest form of distance education, is an asynchronous delivery technology and others include message board forums, e-mail, video and audio recordings, print materials, voicemail and fax.

Other technology methods used in the delivery of distance education include online three-dimensional (3D) virtual worlds. A popular 3D virtual world, Active Worlds, is used for synchronous and asynchronous learning. Active Worlds provides opportunities for students to work collaboratively.

Distance education has achieved one of the rare revolutions in the history of education. The basic challenge that bothers Ministers of education is to manage with so called “the iron triangle of education”. This is a triangle made up of the vectors of access, quality and cost. All of the students would like to maximize access to education systems. All of them want to offer a qualitative education; and all of them want these systems to make it cheaper, because students could be short of resources.

Distance education is revolutionary because it allows us to change the shape of the iron triangle in a way not previously possible. It allows us to increase access, improve quality and cut costs all at the same time.

The strongest argument for distance education is its potential to provide instruction to students who, because of distance, time, or financial constraints, do not have access to traditional learning opportunities or specialized courses. Distance learning courses have been developed to provide equal access to an educational opportunity for schools, especially rural ones,that have to operate with a limited curriculum and staff. The objective is to provide schools by courses of foreign languages, where it would not otherwise be inferable for students to study them.

The success of distance learning in developing students' foreign language skills depends on the ability of the instructional program to provide language learning in face-to-face settings. This capability can now be provided through two-way satellite communications that allow teachers to communicate with students at each site and to provide the interaction needed for development of second language skills.

Why Distance Education?

There are a lot of other reasons pro distance learning accept “the iron triangle of education”.

· Learn on your time. Online education allows us to study when we have time—from early morning till night. There would be your own study schedule. Keep your job; take care of your family. You don’t have to give up important responsibilities to pursue an online education.

· Location. Your classroom is as close as your living room or home office.

· Learn where you live. No need to relocate in pursuit of your online degree.

· Save money. You’ll save on room and board, college tuition, classroom supplies, transportation costs, and more.

Our modern Kazakhstani society demands new ways, new methods of learning foreign languages. The old system is steadily getting outdate. The most convenient, the most available variant for contemporary students is the distance learning, as the way of receiving knowledge in time they want, at the place they want, for the price they want.