Value Priorities and Reproductive Attitudes of Students

The student’s social ordinary attitudes concerning positive images are investigated. In 2018 there were interviewed 404 undergraduate students from one of the Moscow universities. Social attitudes were studied via the vignettes method – short stories, where the university students (girls and boys) acted as the characters in certain situations. Most respondents (more than 59.0%) approve of the student’s actions aimed primarily at successful higher education, mandatory higher education. A successful boy during the student period manages to combine study with work (part-time) and take responsibility for creating a family, while cohabitation is not approved. Students support the behavior of a girl who is ready not only to study, but also to work, if necessary – to become a breadwinner in the student family, whereas cohabitation for a girl is allowed. Depending on the circumstances, the ideal student is often associated with a rational, career-oriented person ready to delay the childbirth, even if it requires abortion. Abortion is also considered as a way out of a difficult situation: for example, when it poses a threat to your career (continuing your education and keeping your job), if you do not have the support of your family, or if you are likely to lose a loved one (including not saving your marriage). 30% approve of the actions described in the vignettes related to the refusal of studying. In general, for most students the basic values of the Russian society – creating a family and working – are a priority.

The Ideal Language Student ‒ Myth or Reality

The image of the ideal student, existing in the era of new technologies, ubiquitous Twitter and Facebook, messengers and commercials, undoubtedly attracts the attention of researchers both at home and abroad. This is a cumulative image of cognitive abilities, business qualities, psycho-physiological peculiarities, appearance and interpersonal skills. This study aims to identify the main characteristics of the image of the ideal language student as perceived by the teachers of foreign languages from three leading universities: Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Plekhanov Russian Economics University and The Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The relevance of the study is determined by insufficient research of the problem and qualitative changes which have been occurring over the 21st century in education in general and tertiary education in particular. The article attempts to describe and analyse the results of an anonymous survey pertaining to the image of ideal language students as perceived by the practicing instructors of foreign languages. The total number of respondents was 79, including 42 instructors from Plekhanov University, 22 from the Presidential Academy and 15 from MSU. The analysis of the responses showed that the ideal student as perceived by the teachers is the one who possesses good critical thinking skills, is motivated and disciplined with a serious attitude to study. The obtained results do not allow drawing conclusions about specific features of the ideal student depending on the length of pedagogical experience. Each age group included all possible sets of characteristics. It is noteworthy that teachers from MSU valued both social qualities (team work, sociability) and personality traits (diligence, decency); the instructors from the Presidential Academy ranked first adequate reaction to critique and willingness to listen and hear; while their counterparts from Plekhanov University emphasized the importance of good presentation skills, speaking and communication competency alongside the interest in the subject. The statement “There are no ideal students” also came from among the practitioners of Plekhanov University.