TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING READING COMPETENCE ON THE CBI/STEM DOMAIN

Abstract

The article reports on the experience obtained through teaching reading strategies in the CBI domain at Urgench State University (Uzbekistan) that demonstrated the importance of scaffolding techniques in teaching both General English and CBI. Effective approaches to scaffolding implemented in the teaching process that provided easier immersion in the academic content and boosted students’ language acquisition are presented. It is advisable to pay particular attention to enhancing students' reading proficiency as part of the development of their academic learning abilities since reading constitutes the majority of the cognitive load in academic studies. In Central Asia, educators require their students to have a strong foundation in STEM literacy from an early age. This mandate forces colleges and institutions to give students the skills they need to be open to collaboration, integration, innovation, and lifelong learning. A multidimensional and inter-disciplinary approach is crucial from the students' point of view following work placement as it adds more value to local and global issues. Project-based learning tasks, real-world problem-solving tasks, team-based collaborative learning activities, and fostering leadership are all 21st century soft skills that can enhance and help to promote excellence in both learning and teaching STEM education.