Keyword: «communicative skills»

The study of intercultural communication in psychology is an important issue in the context of the modern globalized world. Research in this area can lead to the development of more effective methods of training and education, improving the quality of international cooperation based on an understanding of psychological characteristics. The purpose of our research is to study intercultural communication from the point of view of the difficulties that arise in its process. The author's questionnaire was used for the study. The study sample consisted of two groups of students from the Petrozavodsk State University: 1 – a group in which there are foreign students (25 people), 2 – a group in which there are no foreign students (14 people). The results showed that the assessment of difficulties in intercultural communication by students who had experience of intercultural communication differed from the assessment of difficulties in intercultural communication by students who did not have such experience.

This article explores the application of collaborative learning technology in English language education. The methods discussed include discussions and projects aimed at developing both communicative and grammatical skills. The advantages and challenges of this technology in fostering students' independence and communicative competence are highlighted.

The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the necessity of training qualified educators and the importance of their role in the implementation of innovative technologies in the educational process. The essence of project-research technology (PRT) is disclosed, with special attention given to the advantages of using this technology in foreign language teaching.

This article addresses the issue of developing soft skills in students of various majors—humanities (creative) fields, engineering (technical) specialties, and IT disciplines. The relevance of this research is driven by the need to prepare competitive professionals who are capable not only of creating high-quality creative output but also of presenting it effectively, engaging in dialogue with colleagues and clients, and feeling confident in public spaces and foreign language environments. The aim of this work is to identify the level of awareness and proficiency in soft skills among students of different majors, to pinpoint gaps in their understanding of the structure and content of soft skills, and to justify the necessity of integrating these skills into higher education curricula across various fields. The article includes an analysis of scientific literature and an experimental study conducted together with students majoring in humanities, engineering and IT fields in the form of a survey during foreign (English) language classes. This provided extensive material for further developing a foreign language curriculum that incorporates soft skills into the learning process. The results confirm the authors' hypothesis regarding the insufficient level of soft skills proficiency among students, primarily those majoring in engineering fields. The study revealed significant differences in the perception of the importance of soft skills depending on the areas of training. Humanities majors demonstrate the highest level of such awareness and acknowledge the necessity of developing both skill categories (hard and soft). IT specialists take up an intermediate position, recognizing the significance of both categories. Technical specialists show the most pronounced focus on hard skills, reflecting the entrenched paradigm in technical education that prioritizes subject-specific knowledge. An important finding of the study was the identification of a systemic deficit in understanding the structure of soft skills: students exhibit an insufficiently complete and often distorted perception of their content. The research holds high theoretical significance, as the latest studies, including those by scholars, labor market researchers, and employers, indicate a critical decline in the level of soft skills among graduates of Russian universities. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the obtained data can be used to design curricula for various majors in accordance with the needs of the learners.