Abstract:

The article discusses such a concept as “soft skills”. Nowadays this concept is understood as a very important one in a teaching profession. The concept “soft skills” has been actively developed in Western pedagogical science since the beginning of 2000s. There is no single approach to the interpretation of “soft skills” in Russian science. Western and Russian scientists include the following components in “soft skills”. They are emotional intelligence, the ability to persuade, the ability find an approach to people, communication and management talents, the ability to resolve conflict situations, readiness for risks, stress. Also, a person must have such qualities as creativity, flexibility, and his wish to search for alternative solutions. Most researchers are considered professional stability as an integrative quality of a person, as a key component of a teacher’s professional culture, as stability of emotional reactions, the ability to regulate emotional state, as a factor of successful professional activity in extreme situations. We understand this term as the integrative quality of a person. It ensures the ability of a teacher to carry out professional activities for a long time with a high level of emotional stability and effective work under extreme situations. The research was based on the Vocational and Pedagogical Institute of the South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University. The study involved 120 bachelors, 52 master’s degree students and 27 university teachers.

The authors of the article conducted an empirical research. Its findings are the following:
1) the majority of respondents are not familiar with the concept “soft skills”. Although when meeting them, they consider it important for their future professional activity;
2) the majority of respondents are familiar with the concept “professional stability” and consider it important for their professional activities. Also, the majority of respondents consider the concept “soft skills” important in the teaching profession.

Keywords:

Soft skills of teachers, professional stability of teachers, emotional intelligence, self-improvement, communication skills.