Teaching methods for Russian Language

In the teaching of Russian language different methods are used. Depending on the student’s goals, the number of people in the group, the presence of a language environment, level of language proficiency, focusing on one of language aspect such as speaking, writing, listening, reading. Let us have a look on a few of them.

Direct method is based on teacher-centered approach to learning. A teacher spends most of his time with the student and talks all the time, comments on what is happening around, gives instructions (by analogy, a parent to a child). During a lesson only Russian is used.

Inquiry-based learning method. Language learning falls under the student-centered approach. Students discuss actual subjects with the use of both the native or English and Russian language. Teacher answers questions and review a progress. A teacher can use a students’ native language or English for giving instructions or grammar explanations.

Cognitive method students learn through observing and copying a teacher’s examples, demonstrations by body language. Educator can use a students’ native language or English for grammar explanations. With an increase in the level of knowledge of the language being studied, the auxiliary language is superseded and more and more often explanations are made in Russian.

In practice, no method is used in its pure form, teaching is the creation and abidance of a balance between the preferences in teaching the teacher and the preferences in studying of the students. From the lesson to the lesson, the teacher tries to present new material in various ways through explanations, the game, watching movies, reading books, discussing vital subjects. The combination of methods and the composition of lessons will be different for individual and group lessons, for tourists and businessmen, for students and housewives, for technical specialists and humanities.