Zhang C. Pupils’ Foreign Communicative Competence Formation in non-formal education (based on the application of the People's Republic of China).

The dissertation is a theoretical and experimental study of the issue of forming pupils’ foreign language communicative competence in terms of non-formal education (based on the application of the People's Republic of China). The main idea of the study is formulated as follows: the formation of foreign language communicative competence of students in non-formal education institutions in China can be ensured by substantiating the pedagogical conditions for the formation of this competence, developing and implementing the model for the implementation of these pedagogical conditions in private non-formal educational institutions of the People's Republic of China. In the first chapter of the study an analysis of psychological, pedagogical and normative resources was carried out. The essence of the concept of "foreign communicative competence" is clarified as the ability to effective dialogical interaction based on the comprehensive application of all components of communicative language competence, taking into account the choice of strategies and forms of communication to achieve the goal. The structure of the specified competence is substantiated: its structural components are recognized as linguistic, sociolinguistic, pragmatic and practical-activity components. The methodological basis for the formation of foreign language communicative competence is determined and the main approaches to its development are identified: systemic, activity-oriented, synergistic and transformational. The concepts of "blended learning" and "hybrid learning" are studied in the context of informal education in China. The current potential of non-formal education and its role in a sustainable development society are analyzed. The features of the formation of foreign language communicative competence of students in the conditions of informal education in the PRC are identified. In the second chapter of the study a terminological base was built, a terminological analysis was conducted and the essential characteristics of the concept of “pedagogical conditions” were determined. Based on the results of the research in the first chapter, the concept of pedagogical conditions was clarified in the context of this study. Besides, in the second chapter, it is substantiated that the complex of pedagogical conditions for the formation of foreign communicative competence (FCC) of students in non-formal education institutions in China should include: targeted theoretical and methodological training of teachers-facilitators for the formation of FCC in terms of non-formal education; creation of a dynamic, interactive and value-oriented information educational environment that ensures flexible organization of the educational process based on blended learning; application of a complex of means for stimulating students to dialogical communication in a foreign language. Analysis of the essence of the justified conditions, as well as the structural components of the foreign communicative competence allowed to build a model for their implementation for the first time. The model is presented in the following main blocks. The qualimetric submodel of the implementation of pedagogical conditions for the formation of foreign language communicative competence of pupils of private non-formal education institutions of the PRC contributed to the identification of the ways for improving the educational language environment based on the identified pedagogical conditions. The developed additional qualimetric submodel for determining the level of formation of pupils’ FCC allowed teachers and pupils, according to the criteria defined by experts, to assess the level of formation of foreign language communicative competence according to the CERF levels, where the factors and criteria were selected based on the Pan-European Recommendations on Language Education. Based on the theoretical and practical material of the study, methodological recommendations were developed for the implementation of pedagogical conditions for the formation of foreign language communicative competence of pupils’ in private non-formal education institutions in the PRC. The practical value of the research results is confirmed by their implementation in the educational process of national and foreign educational institutions, in particular: Simon Kuznets KhNEU (certificate № 25/86-19-13 dated 06.01.2025); Shi Jiazhuang Digital and Intelligent Education Technology Training School (China) (certificate w/n dated 26.12.2024); Zhongchuan Xueyi Star Art Training School (China) (certificate w/n dated 26.12.2024). The conceptual frameworks and practical advancements presented in the dissertation can be practically applied by researchers, foreign language educators, educational administrators etc.