The article deals with the potential of a phonetic contest in English as a form of extracurricular activity. The goals and tasks are considered, the analysis of the annual event held at school #61 of Volgograd is carried out. The criteria to choose prizewinners of the phonetic contest are determined.

There are considered the peculiarities of foreign language teaching at school in profile classes specializing in law on the basis of the gender approach. There is given the author’s evaluation of influence of separate education on development of communicative skills necessary for men and women for their common work in the modern society. There is shown the significance of the gender approach in the process of foreign language teaching by the example of the experimental work carried out in one of the Volgograd schools.