culture in the russian language classroom: what to teach? startalk, august 10, 2012 jason merrill,...

Culture in the Russian Language Classroom: What to Teach?

Startalk, August 10, 2012

Jason Merrill, Michigan State University / Middlebury College

Схема презентации

• Context / Content-based instruction• Опрос студентов, учившихся в Русской школе• Примеры из практики преподавателей Русской школы• Вопросы / обсуждение

Content-Based Instruction

Aim: “the ability to communicate with native speakers in real-life situations”by giving them not only the language but also the other cultural knowledgeneeded for successful communication.

Various types of courses

Cultural knowledge a stated goal of ACTFL, MLA, Common European Framework

But what content should we teach?

Мой опрос

• 67 вопросов• 169 студентов ответили• 110 женщин, 56 мужчин• Средний возраст – 29 лет• Средний учил русский 6.5 семестров• 76% работали или учились в России• Не спрашивал, откуда они

Первый вопрос:

Почему вы начали изучать русский язык?

All Respondents: Why did you start taking Russian? Please rank your top three reasons (n = 158)

Reason % ranked first % ranked in top three

Other 17.7 27.2

I wanted to use Russian in my future Employment 15.8 38.6

I wanted to read Russian authors in the original 12 26.5

I was interested in Russian history 9.4 31

It sounded exotic 8.8 25.3

It sounded fun 7.5 23.4

I wanted to expand my understanding of world 6.9 31

I wanted to visit Russia 5.6 25.3

I wanted to work in Russia 4.4 18.9

I have Russian friends 3.1 8.8

The language I wanted to take was full / not offered / conflicted with other courses

2.5 6.3

I wanted to become a teacher of Russian history, culture, politics, or economy

1.8 5

I wanted to become a teacher of Russian 1.2 5.6

I am of Russian heritage 1.2 5.6

No particular reason 0.6 6.3

Women: Why did you start taking Russian? Please rank your top three reasons (n = 104)


Other 22.1 36.5

I wanted to use Russian in Employment 15.3 35.5

I wanted to read Russian authors in the original 14.4 26.9

It sounded exotic 8.6 24

I was interested in Russian history 7.6 28.8

I wanted to expand my understanding of world 6.7 33.6


I wanted to visit Russia 4.8 25



1.9 6.7



1.9 3.8




Men: Why did you start taking Russian? Please rank your top three reasons (n = 52)


I wanted to use Russian in Employment 17.3 44.2




Other 9.6 9.6

I wanted to read Russian authors in the original 7.6 26.9



I wanted to expand my understanding of world 5.7 25


3.8 5.7


1.9 7.6



No particular reason 0 7.6

I am of Russian heritage 0 5.7

Respondents 25 and under: Why did you start taking Russian? Please rank your top three reasons (n = 56)


I wanted to use Russian in Employment 16 39.2

I wanted to read Russian authors in the original 16 32.1


Other 12.5 23.2

I wanted to expand my understanding of world 8.9 35.7




5.3 7.1








0 1.7

В какой области вы хотели работать, когда вы начали изучать русский?

All Respondents (who planned on using Russian in employment): What area did you HOPE to work in when you started taking Russian? (n = 109)

Area % ranked first % ranked in top three

Government service (abroad – diplomatic work) 27.5 65.1

Education 22.9 35.7

Government service (domestic organizations such as the Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, FBI or CIA)

15.5 46.7

Other 9.1 12.8

Non-government organizations (NGOs) 8.2 53.2

Business 8.2 24.7

Humanitarian Organizations 5.5 30.2

Journalism 2.7 13.7

Military 0 5.5

Aerospace 0 0

Women (who planned on using Russian in employment): What area did you HOPE to work in when you started taking Russian? (n = 67)



Education 25.3 41.7


14.9 44.7


Other 10.4 16.4


Business 2.9 16.4

Journalism 0 13.4

Military 0 2.9

Aerospace 0 0

Men (who planned on using Russian in employment): What area did you HOPE to work in when you started taking Russian? (n = 41)



Education 19.5 24.3


17 51.2

Business 17 39

Journalism 7.3 14.6

Other 7.3 7.3



Military 0 9.7

Aerospace 0 0

Respondents 25 and under (who planned on using Russian in employment): What area did you HOPE to work in when you started taking Russian? (n = 40)



Education 27.5 37.5


15 50

Other 10 17.5

Non-government organizations (NGOs) 5 52.5

Business 5 12.5

Humanitarian Organizations 0 22.5

Journalism 0 12.5

Military 0 7.5

Aerospace 0 0

Как вы употребляете русский язык в свободное время?

All respondents who use Russian in their free time: How do you use you Russian in your free time? Choose all that apply (n = 111)

Activity % that engage in the activity

I watch Russian films 72.9

I listen to Russian music 67.5

I read Russian web sites 66.6

I follow Russian news 64.8

I speak Russian with friends 64.8

I read Russian literature for pleasure 45

I watch Youtube videos 44.1

I correspond with Russian friends 42.3

I Skype with Russian friends 21.6

I read Russian non-fiction (other than news) for pleasure 15.3

I participate in Russophone internet-based communities, including social media or gaming communities

9

Other 9

I speak Russian with family members 8.1

All respondents who use Russian in social media sites: on which sites do you use Russian? List all that apply (n = 60)

Site % that use Russian on that site

Facebook: www.facebook.com 81.6

V kontakte: www.vk.com 38.3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ 10

Odnoklassniki: http://www.odnoklassniki.ru/ 3.3

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ 1.6

Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/ 1.6

Mir tesen: http://mirtesen.ru/ 1.6

Znakomstva: http://znakomstva.ru/ 1.6

Other ways students use Russian in their free time (n = 156)

Do you currently use Russian… % who responded positively

…in your community? 33.9

…with friends? 66.6

...with relatives or significant others? 16.6

«Культурное содержание»: что преподается в вашем университете?

All Respondents: What types of content were taught at your home institution? Rank by time devoted to each (n = 101)

Content Area % ranked first % ranked in top three

Prose Literature 37.6 60.3

Information about Everyday Life 18.8 42.5

Poetry 7.9 44.5

History 8.9 36.6

Film 8.9 27.7

Popular Culture 5.9 25.7

Politics 3.9 18.8

News Media 2.9 12.8

Contemporary Music 1.9 8.9

Other 2.9 3.9

Art 0.9 0.9

Folk Music 0 3.9

Folklore 0 3.9

Classical Music 0 2.9

Philosophy 0 1.9

А какое культурное содержание нужно преподавать?

All Respondents: What types of content SHOULD be taught in Russian language classes? Rank by time devoted to each (n = 132)




History 14.3 53.7


Poetry 6 24.2

News Media 4.5 21.2

Film 3.7 21.9

Politics 3.7 28

Other 3 5.3

Folk Music 0.7 5.3

Classical Music 0.7 3.7

Folklore 0.7 3.7

Contemporary Music 0 3

Philosophy 0 1.5

Art 0 0

Women: What types of content SHOULD be taught in Russian language classes? Rank by time devoted to each (n = 87)




History 16 51.7


Politics 4.5 27.5

Poetry 4.5 26.4

News Media 3.4 20.6

Film 3.4 18.3

Other 2.2 3.4

Folk Music 1.1 5.7

Classical Music 1.1 4.5

Folklore 1.1 4.5

Contemporary Music 0 4.5

Philosophy 0 1.1

Art 0 0

Men: What types of content SHOULD be taught in Russian language classes? Rank by time devoted to each (n = 46)


Information about Everyday Life 34.7 76


History 10.8 52.1


Poetry 8.6 19.5

News Media 6.5 19.5

Film 4.3 28.2

Other 4.3 8.6

Politics 2.1 28.2

Classical Music 0 2.1

Folklore 0 2.1

Folk Music 0 2.1

Philosophy 0 2.1

Contemporary Music 0 0

Art 0 0

Respondents 25 and under: What types of content SHOULD be taught in Russian language classes? Rank by time devoted to each (n = 47)



History 19.1 55.3


Popular Culture 6.3 34

News Media 6.3 23.4

Poetry 4.2 27.6

Film 4.2 25.5

Politics 4.2 19.1

Other 4.2 8.6

Contemporary Music 0 2.1

Folklore 0 2.1

Philosophy 0 2.1

Art 0 0

Classical Music 0 0

Folk Music 0 0

Итоги опроса

Что говорят преподаватели?

Все 7 ведущие преподаватели в нашей 8-недельной программе ответили на вопрос:

Помимо языка, какое культурное содержание вы преподаете?

Т.е. что ваши студенты знают о России и о русских в конце программы, чего не знали в начале?

Как вы это преподаете? Какой у вас подход к этому вопросу?

Как культура связана с языком, и вообще и в плане преподавания языка.

1 Курс

Level 1. Introductory RussianFor students with very little or no previous classroom instruction in Russian. Starting from scratch, with a weekend “survival Russian” course before taking the language pledge, students learn the alphabet and learn to read and understand spoken Russian, learn to write and speak Russian in basic and predictable contexts (ordering a meal in a restaurant, asking directions on the street). Students master the basic grammatical structures of the language and acquire a beginning vocabulary, practiced in weekly compositions. Students completing this course typically have novice high or intermediate low language skills.

2 Курс

Level 2. Advanced Introductory RussianFor students with approximately 100 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian; students placing into this course have usually had one year of college Russian (at three hours per week). Students typically complete this course with intermediate low to intermediate-mid language skills.

3 курс

Level Three. Beginning Intermediate RussianFor students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class, students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of the foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid language skills.

4 Курс

Level 4. Enhanced Intermediate RussianFor students with approximately 200 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,700 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid to intermediate high language skills.

5 курс

Level 5. Advanced Intermediate RussianFor students with 300 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and focus on more challenging structures of the language such as participles, comparative forms, and verbs of motion. At the end of the summer most students have an active vocabulary approaching 2,000 words. Readings for the class include poetry, short stories, and longer prose works, as well as newspaper articles. Significant time is devoted to watching television news reports and reading news items. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid to intermediate high language skills.

6 Курс

Level 6. Advanced Russian IFor students with at least 350 hours of prior formal instruction in Russian, or fewer hours of formal instruction but a semester or more in Russia. Students in this class already have a firm grasp of advanced grammar topics in Russian, such as participles, verbal adverbs, quantitative expressions (measurements and other numeric expressions), and verbs of motion. Students work hard on expanding their vocabulary, building up semantic fields on everyday and political/ societal topics (active vocabulary of 2,250 words). Students watch Russian films, read short stories, poetry, and newspaper articles, complete listening and writing assignments on journalistic topics, and complete oral assignments including the preparation and delivery of short presentations. Students typically complete this course with intermediate high to advanced low language skills.

7 Курс

Level 7. Advanced Russian IIFor students with at least 400 hours of prior formal instruction in Russian, or fewer hours of formal instruction but a semester or more in Russia. In this class, students tackle the more complicated grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and significantly increase their vocabulary by studying Russian root-based semantic groups, idioms, and synonyms. The course focuses a good deal of attention on the development of students’ lexical competence (active vocabulary of 2,500 words) by acquainting them with prototypical models of the word formation and derivation processes of contemporary standard Russian. Much of the class’s work is devoted to the detailed analysis of a few famous Russian films, including Burnt by the Sun, The Stroll, The Sniper (Kukusha), Brother-2, Piter-FM, and The Diamond Hand, as well as the reading of contemporary poems, short stories, and excerpts of longer prose works. Students give short presentations on the writers whose works they read. Students typically complete this course with advanced low to advanced mid language skills.

culture in the russian language classroom: what to teach? startalk, august 10, 2012 jason merrill,...

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