A new specialty - "Secondary Education", the educational programme "English and German Languages and Literatures" has been opened at the Faculty FPSC in SumDU. The programme provides for the training of a qualified competitive specialist - a teacher of foreign languages and literature with an educational bachelor's degree.

The uniqueness of the specialty lies in the complete immersion of students in the study of two foreign languages at once from the very first year. As Nataliia Tatsenko, the head of the Foreign Languages Department, notes, this feature will be implemented through the teaching of theoretical disciplines in English and the involvement of teachers and specialists from foreign universities. Thus, from the first year, the student enters the English or German-speaking environment, which takes the study of a foreign language to a completely different, higher level.

Another advantage of the proposed educational programme is its focus on gaining practical skills. The curriculum is structured in such a way as to enable students to gain practical experience in combination with a theoretical knowledge base. An example is the children's summer school of English at the university, where students can work entirely as teachers for the first time after completing the first year. In addition to a high level of professional training, students will be taught to think systematically, analytically, and critically, develop organizational skills, and possess the skills of creativity and adaptability, i.e., to be knowledgeable specialists in the field of education.

Thanks to the close cooperation between SumDU and the city's schools, it became evident that this specialty is in demand and secondary education institutions need qualified specialists of the new generation. We should emphasize that the training of bachelors in the specialty "Secondary Education" will be carried out according to the standards of the New Ukrainian School. The newest teaching methods and the involvement of modern technologies are an integral part of the current educational process. Therefore, lecturers of the specialty will focus on obtaining practical skills and professional self-improvement in the conditions of modern challenges in the academic field and the development of creative pedagogical activity.

Concerning employment opportunities, after completing their studies, students will be able to hold such positions as a teacher of English and German languages and literatures, a methodologist, an out-of-school methodologist, a philologist, and teacher's assistant. Nevertheless, as Olena Sushkova, the Dean of the Faculty FPSC of SumDU, notes, perfect knowledge of two languages does not limit at all. But on the contrary, it only significantly helps graduates choose a future profession, which may not be primarily associated with teaching. In addition, graduates of the specialty will be able to continue their studies and receive a master's degree in higher education, that is, acquire qualifications in other educational and professional programmes within the main and additional subject areas in the postgraduate education system.

Anastasiia Kyzym, student of the group ZhT-11