The structure and types of practical work are analyzed in the article. The authors consider a practical work as a principal unit of the pedagogic process. The type of practical work depends on the purpose of training: presentation of new subjects, repetition, test exercises. The authors single out two kinds of practical work depending on the nature of teaching: the preparatory practical work (having the nature of some training) and the linguistic practice. In the course of preparatory practical work the activities of students and a lecturer, first of all, are directed to formation of skills enabling to understand the subjects taught and the usage thereof in the process of communication. The linguistic practice is usually associated with one or another kind of the linguistic activity. The structure of practical work has to be flexible and dynamic.