Introduction. Information and communication technologies are one of the guarantees of successful modernization of inclass work and selfstudy; they allow realizing interactive methods of training which have a number of didactic advantages aimed at optimizing students’ independent work. Purpose. To characterize the specificity and outline possible ways of activating students’ independent learning and cognitive activities by means of the project method. Methods. The study has been carried out on the basis of analysis, synthesis, comparison, systematization and generalization of theoretical and practical experience of teaching English for specific purposes. Results. It has been proved that students’ independent learning and cognitive work is the most effective way of receiving profound knowledge. Therefore the methodology of foreign language teaching should be closely connected with the problem of planning and organizing students’ self study. The research has shown that forming knowledge and skills in a foreign language is more intensive when applying active learning techniques. The teaching practice has confirmed the fact that students acquire a foreign language more quickly with the help of such methods of training as WebQuest which is the result of integrating the project method and the possibilities of the Internet. Applying such method in teaching a foreign language is reasonable as doing WebQuests is a longterm problem task aimed at developing language and communicative skills as well as forming sociocultural competence. The students were supposed to do a WebQuest project in English on the perspectives of mass production of ecologically friendly vehicles. The students’ task was to study a number of web sites on this issue and then make a presentation on the results of their research. Conclusion. The research has shown that such forms of teaching as WebQuest considerably activate students’ independent learning and cognitive activities, develop the skills of gaining professional knowledge in a foreign language and the ability to apply it in their future work.