The Development of Soft Skills of Future Teachers in Foreign Language Classes: European Practices

Abstract

The article highlights the problem of developing soft skills of future foreign language teachers in the context of European educational practices. A theoretical analysis of scientific statements on the definition of the essence of the concept of «soft skills», their role in the formation of professional competence of a teacher has been carried out. The article presents the experience of the European Union countries (Poland, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in developing soft skills of future teachers in foreign language classes, emphasising the specifics of using such teaching methods as storytelling, discussion of problem situations based on the content of videos or podcasts, staging, theatricalisation, joint teamwork, project activities, creative presentation of results. The authors present the progressive forms of foreign language classes (Language Days, Speaking Marathons, Reflective Round Table, Language Teaching in Multilingual Classrooms) that are actively popularised in the EU countries to develop the soft skills of future teachers. The article presents the results of a survey of teachers of Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, in particular the Faculty of Foreign Languages, the Valentina Voloshyna Faculty of Preschool and Primary Education, who work with students of the educational programmes 014.021 Secondary Education (the English Language and Foreign Literature), 014.022 Secondary Education (the German Language and Foreign Literature), 013 Primary Education. Secondary Education (Language and Foreign Literature (English)). According to the results of the survey the European experience of developing soft skills of future teachers is actively implemented in foreign language classes through the use of project activities, trainings, debates, team and group work, role-playing games, peer teaching, etc. The study also showed that majority of future teachers are aware of the importance of developing soft skills for their professional and personal growth. At the same time, the need for a more systematic application of innovative methods for the development of soft skills in foreign language classes has been identified and substantiated.