Keyword: «foreign language teacher»

This article is devoted to the formation of professional competence of a foreign language teacher.

The article examines the requirements for teacher training presented in the works of scientists and philologists published in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century in Germany and the USSR. The purpose of the study is to identify the distinctive features of a highly qualified specialist who worked at schools more than a century ago, and compare them with modern ideas about the competence of a foreign language teacher. The answer to the question which of the analyzed criteria can be considered outdated and which should be recognized as relevant in the 21st century is going to be the conclusion.

In communication it is important to take into account non-verbal signals: voice, gestures, facial expressions. The article examines why it is important for a foreign language teacher to use non-verbal communication correctly, provided that non-verbal signals are responsible for the greatest part of communication and affect the students’ emotions. Cultural differences in the meanings of gestures play a special role in foreign language teaching. Correct usage of nonverbal means and taking into consideration the indicators of students' behavior and state of mind make the lesson more efficient and interesting.