Abstract
<jats:p>The article considers the essence and specific features of the 'living word' of a teacher of a higher education institution as the highest level of pedagogical skill, the art of influencing the intellect, will and feelings of student youth. The significance and priority of the teacher's oratory in the system of his/her professional competences are proved, the necessity of mastering speech communication for both future teachers and research and teaching staff of higher education institutions, who should constantly improve their own speech, in particular, humanise and empathise with verbal action, is revealed. Based on the analysis of a wide range of studies by Ukrainian scholars on the theory and practice of pedagogical skills, theatrical pedagogy, stage speech and rhetorical perfection of teachers, the article substantiates the specific features of using the 'living word' as an effective tool in the educational work of a teacher, and also formulates practical advice on improving the beauty of a teacher's pedagogical speech by means of the «living word». Attention is focused on the need to increase the proportion of the course 'Fundamentals of Pedagogical Skills of a Teacher of a Higher Education Institution' in the context of a master's degree, in particular in the field of improving the thinking and speaking skills of future teachers who organise the educational process during the war, overcoming the difficulties of world perception and mental disorders of student youth whose hearts are 'wounded' by the war. The essential characteristics of the 'living word' of a teacher in the system of organising professional and pedagogical interaction as an effective indicator of his/her pedagogical image and an indicator of the level of professionalism are determined. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)</jats:p>