My Russian Journey: Rethinking Teaching Russian to Beginners

Abstract

This chapter discusses essential issues in teaching elementary Russian as a Foreign Language (RFL) and analyzes the process of creating a digital curriculum along with ways to integrate it into the classroom. The chapter provides insight into recently emerged research-based methods of language analysis based on corpus research and builds corresponding teaching practices. It also looks into whether digital platforms can completely replace paper textbooks. The experience from the pilot semester of My Russian Journey (MRJ) suggests that both media are needed. MRJ upholds student-centered learning through continuous student involvement in curricular design, as students provide valuable feedback on the structure and content of the approach to grammar instruction offered by MRJ and are instrumental in shaping and fine-tuning the resource. The sections containing explicit grammar explanations are interlaced with interactive exercises; accompanying instructional videos are available for students to watch as needed. In the curriculum, language serves as a cultural medium, as MRJ’s texts are rooted in the rich cultural, national, religious, and geographic diversity of Russia and place special emphasis on the long-established amicable relations between Russia and Norway. The chapter concludes with a comparison of existing beginner Russian curricula, highlights of student feedback that was particularly impactful in MRJ course design, and discussion of ways to facilitate student engagement.