THE ROLE OF SOCIAL-POLITICAL CONTEXT IN THE CHOICE OF THE SECOND / FOREIGN LANGUAGE: THE EXPERIENCE OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

The purpose of the article is to deepen, on the basis of historical and pedagogical analysis, understanding of the idea that in the choice of the languages that function in the society as a second or a foreign language, the socio-political context is crucial. The methodology of the research is based on the use of such methods as the analysis and synthesis of literary sources, published and archival documents, scientific investigations and dissertations of other authors; comparison, systematization and generalization of facts and ideas; retrospective analysis of the problem raised in the periods of the Russian Empire, the USSR, and independent Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the material and ideas presented in the article lies in a purposeful actualization of the essential role of socio-political factors in the construction and implementation of the state policy in the field of language education. The article deals with the problem of unambiguous definition of the terms «first language», «second language», «foreign language» in the countries where more than one language is used. The arguments in favor of the assumptions of the role of socio-political context of public language education are presented. A retrospective analysis of the discourse of Ukrainian and Russian as the first and second languages in Ukraine is presented. The interaction between socio-political background and national practice in the state policy of foreign language learning is illustrated and analyzed. It is concluded that the choice of a second or foreign language for study is strongly intertwined with politics and ideology, interstate relations, and aspirations of national self-identification, both at the state and individual levels. Historical experience shows that the attempts to replace the mother tongue with another language, such as an artificial concept of a «second mother tongue», under a totalitarian state regime, may for some time cause serious dissonance in the national identity of the whole nation. However, the democratic way of social development can lead to the rejection of the language, which has been imposed in any way. Foreign language learning is a good counterbalance to the dominance of the language artificially imposed in this way