The article considers the competence-based approach as one of the tools for the modernization of secondary vocational education system. Historiography of the study is analysis of this approach from the point of view of psychology, in the socio-cultural aspect, as well as from specific competencies formation viewpoint. The implementation of new approaches to teaching foreign languages in vocational education is one of the strong requirements of the new Federal Educational Standards. These approaches help to achieve the main goal of teaching foreign languages-the formation of a language personality capable to carry out verbal and written communication in multicultural environments. The key educational competencies are listed and characterized: valuesemantic, general cultural, educational and cognitive, informational, communicative, social labor, self-improvement. The example of the tructure of the training session in the context of competence-based approach is given. It was determined that the competence-based approach makes the process of foreign languages learning more practice-oriented, contributes to the formation of the competences necessary for foreign communication, formation and development of the intellectual and creative potential of students. Thus, the development of all competencies enables a specialists to freely enter domestic and professional communication.