Content-Based Teaching of Russian as a Foreign Language explores how content-based instruction can be applied in the teaching of Russian as an additional or heritage language. Bringing together the perspectives and experiences of scholar-practitioners, this edited collection presents diverse contemporary approaches to the content-based instruction of Russian.
Through case studies that detail content-based courses and their evolution over recent years, the volume offers valuable insights into pedagogical innovation for developing and modernizing curricula. While grounded in research, the case studies emphasize practical application, providing models that can be adapted or replicated. Each chapter offers "lessons learned" to help educators tailor these courses to various settings. The chapters span all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced, and they engage with a wide range of content.
The book will appeal to instructors of Russian in the fields of Russian studies and Slavonic studies, as well as anyone interested in Russian language pedagogy, foreign language acquisition, or curriculum development.
Table of Contents:
PART I
CONTEXTUALIZING CONTENT-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING
1 The content-based teaching of Russian: A dual commitment to language and content
2 The content-based teaching of Russian: Themes, trends, opportunities
PART II
FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE
3 Content integration at the beginning level: What can be done?
4 Content-based curriculum design for lower-level Russian language students: Theory and Practice
5 Subtitled pop-music videos in the teaching of language and culture in intensive beginning Russian
6 Language arts: Teaching Russian in a university museum
PART III
FROM INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED
7 “Balance of interests”: Fostering advanced Russian in a course on the Caspian Sea Treaty
8 Teaching intercultural communication as an autonomous discipline in L2 Russian
9 Building language and intercultural competence in content-based courses
10 Interdisciplinarity through content-based instruction: Addressing social and ecological justice in the Russian language program for global professionals
11 Media and motivation in advanced language courses for Gen Z learners
12 Micro-publishing and content-based instruction: The Russian-Speaking Arizona book project
13 Bridging worlds: Realities, challenges, and opportunities for the content-based teaching of Russian
About the Author :
Jason Merrill is Professor of Russian at Michigan State University and former Director of the Middlebury College Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian, USA.
Olga Makarova is Senior Lecturer in Russian Studies at Queen Mary University of London, UK.
Svetlana V. Nuss is a series editor and teacher educator affiliated with the University of Alaska and Grand Canyon University, USA.
