The Use of Works of Art as a Means of Enhancing the Educational and Cognitive Activity of Students

Abstract

The relevance of the research topic is due to close attention of scientific and pedagogical public to the issues of cognitive education. Over the past years there has been sustainable interest to various methods of cognitive visualization and a search for new forms of work for the formation of cognitive interest and development of reflective mental activity. Purpose: to substantiate the effectiveness of the use of famous paintings as cognitive visual material to enhance students’ learning and cognitive activity at English classes and to present the types of tasks with them. Research methods: research methods are based on an analytical review of scientific sources on issues of cognitive education, the use of visual aids in the educational process and generalization of personal pedagogical experience of using the proposed tasks at English classes. Results: the article presents examples of tasks which generate interest, stimulate cognitive activity and contribute to the development of all components of communicative competence. It is concluded that within the framework of the communicative and cognitive approach, the use of paintings as visual visualization has great potential in the field of motivation, creation of a positive attitude towards learning and contributes to the effective solution of several educational and pedagogical tasks.

Keywords: cognitive interest, a work of art, learning motivation, cognitive visualization, reflective mental activity, communicative competence, vocabulary activation, actualization of grammatical skills