Read and Think Russian An Intermediate Reader Book Two: Social Life and Culture

Read and Think Russian is an intermediate level textbook primarily targeted at improving students' reading comprehension skills in the Russian language. However, the course is intended for all students seeking to reach an advanced level of Russian in all modalities (speaking, reading, writing, and listening) according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale. This book is designed to bridge the gap between language teaching methodologies used in Russia and English-speaking countries, thus facilitating the preparation for study and work abroad. It is suited for use in higher-level undergraduate courses, graduate courses and continuing education for those professionally or academically involved in Eurasian studies. Consisting of four chapters, Book II contains authentic, contemporary reading segments full of practical knowledge about Russian Social Life. Crime and Terrorism, Religion and Culture. Each chapter includes helpful graphics as well as concise vocabulary to assist the student in determining the main ideas, while also presenting grammatical reminders, translation exercises and questions to facilitate topical discussions.

About the Author :
Professor Basil Bessonoff holds advanced degrees in applied linguistics from the Universities of London and St. Petersburg. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and the Academic Director of its examination center in Washington, D.C. Since 1994, Professor Bessonoff has taught courses at numerous universities and government agencies. He also acted as the Academic Advisor for the North American edition of the Ruslan Russian I textbook (2003) and coauthored and edited the U.S. edition of the Road to Russia textbook for beginners (2013). The first of his three-part series Read and Think Russian was published in 2018.

Review :
"Dr. Bessonoff took special care to present his materials on Russia in the politically neutral modality, even though he did not shy away from important contemporary issues. In such questions as the relations of Russia and Iran, Russia and Syria, Russia and China, he chose the texts that provide students with objective historical perspectives that are not susceptible to the changeable attitudes of the day. Consequently, the Reader in its current form will not be outdated in the near future and will continue to supply students with adequate information and practical idiom. Most important, Read and Speak Russian successfully combines the language pedagogy prevalent in English-speaking countries, which focuses on commonly problematic areas and promotes oral and written expression in the target language, with the methodology of analytical reading wide-spread in Russian academia. Therefore, it is certain to facilitate the academic and cultural transition for those students of Russian who intend to continue their study of the language in Russia and other Russian-speaking environments abroad." Constantine Muravnik, Ph.D., Senior Lector II in Russian Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University "[In Read and Think Russian] An initial descriptive chapter sets the framework for subsequent, systematic presentations of grammar and vocabulary through texts and exercises on Russia's position in the international sphere, Russian politics, Russia's economy, and Russia's military stance. In each chapter, non-judgmental articles address contemporary Russian events, Russian social or economic phenomena, governmental institutions and actions and the now-independent states of the former Soviet Union, before diving into more topical material. These subject areas are precisely the ones that many laymen would like to ask Russian acquaintances about, and that diplomats or congressional investigators often address in policy discussions." Judith Robinson, Eurasia Expert, Former USAID Russia, Moldova, and Belarus Senior Desk Officer and Author