Basic methodological principles of constructing the system of exercises

There are two basic methodological principles of constructing any special system of exercises.

1) The first principle is that of adequacy of basic types and kinds of exercises to lingua-psychological characteristics of a certain kind of speech activity and, correspondingly, to a certain kind of communicative skills. In accordance with this principle, the leading role in the system of exercises teaching speaking should belong to communicative exercises in speaking, while exercises in reading should prevail in the system of exercises teaching reading, and so on.

2) The second principle is that of due regard for positive influence of different kinds of speech activity on each other in the process of teaching. The principle concerns interaction and interconnection of such kinds of speech activity in the process of teaching as: speaking ↔ listening; speaking ↔ reading; speaking ↔ writing; reading ↔ writing; listening ↔ reading.

Each special system of exercises should contain exercises from other special systems with the purpose of making use of positive influence of other kinds of language activity. Thus, for example, the system of exercises in teaching speaking should be provided with exercises in reading texts or with the ones connected with the already read texts. This special system can also be supported with exercises in listening to a text or in discussing the text previously listened to.

Within each skill three kinds of speech habit may be distinguished: lexical, grammatical and the so-called technical, including pronunciation and intonation. Thus, each complex of exercises will include three series of exercises for teaching the three aspects of speech habit. Every series of exercises may comprise cycles of exercises varied in number and the degree of difficulty. These exercises are aimed at either formation or development of more specific habits and belong to language, simulative communicative and communicative types.

The purpose of language and simulative communicative exercises is preparing learners for speech activity. Speech activity is realised in purely communicative exercises. Language exercises are aimed at conscious mastering different sides of a speech habit. Simulative communicative exercises lead to forming and developing speech habits in all kinds of communicative skill. Communicative exercises serve the purpose of developing and improving communicative skills.