FORMAL, NONFORMAL AND INFORMAL TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

The article considers the content of formal, non-formal, and informal learning of foreign languages. It is noted that formal education is education that is institutionalized, intentional, and planned through public organizations and recognized private institutions and together they create a system of state formal education. Non-formal education is education that is institutionalized, intentional, and planned by the subject of educational activity. Informal education is a form of education that is intentional or conscious, but not institutionalized. The author analyzes the main differences between formal, non-formal, and informal learning. It has been emphasized that learning, whether formal or informal, is intentional and partly accidental, but informal learning is purely accidental. It has been outlined that in the short term it makes more sense and, of course, more accessible to involve volunteers in the organization of social activities that promote non-formal and informal language learning, instead of immediately organizing official language courses. If such measures are properly designed and effectively implemented, they can motivate and encourage students to participate in formal language courses at a later stage. It has been noted that formal education characterizes education on the negative side due to certain limitations, namely the curriculum is based on norms and laws approved by the government/institution, while the students’ needs and interests are not taken into account. When the students’ needs and interests are taken into account, the students will be more interested and more willing to participate in various activities. On the other hand, non-formal education manages to transform the interests and needs of students into a flexible and adapted form of learning.