Soft Skills and the study of the classics in the original language: the novel "Pride and prejudice" J. Austen at the English lessons

To appeal to the classics in the study of the first foreign language in the language specialties is currently a common practice. The study of a literary work in the original contribute to the development of students' language competence, the expansion of background knowledge. The article discusses the possibility of studying the classic novel of English literature "Pride and prejudice" by Jane Austen in the format of the technology "soft skills" developed by the Institute of writing and thinking (Bard College, USA), providing a sequence of tasks and a system of developed questions.In particular, in the framework of the tasks distribution on pretext, text and after text, students are encouraged to find solution to a problem situation, learn about "the world of Austen", her era, and also to keep a reader's diary and undertake analysis of the behavior of the main characters. Considering "traditional" tasks while working with the text demonstrates their adequacy (compliance) to the requirements of liberal education, as they provide students with both choice and depth of study of the subject. In addition, the system of tasks forms a complex perception of the complicated and multi-level text in conjunction with so-called discourse of the novel - sites dedicated to the era and creative work of the writer. Due to the fact that the possession of "flexible skills" implies a foreign language proficiency, ability to build multicultural relations and to make independent decisions, English classes is an ideal resource for further development and improvement of critical writing and thinking skills of students of Humanities.