The article presents an analytical comparison of Russian and Western research and practice potential for developing teacher roles (the name traditionally accepted in foreign science). The former is characterized by the large amount of research on training technologies, the art of teaching and theatrical pedagogy, which describes artistic instruments, such as voice, speech, gestures, appearance, etc. to aid teaching, whereas the latter concentrates on enhancing relevant technology, i.e. practical application of scientific research. The problems dealt with have a discursive character. The authors have come to a conclusion that an integrative conventional approach is needed to be able to combine the analytic character of Western approach with the synthetic character of the Russian one. In our mentality the process of teaching is associated more with art than science. The current challenge is to try and find ways to make it more technological. Moreover, the authors assume that the process of internationalisation of higher education in Russia will benefit from a joint effort to develop innovative approaches.