This updated version of the Penguin Russian Course introduces the learner, through translation extracts, to the culture and life of the modern (post Glasnost) Soviet Union that was, as well as to the Russian language.

The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey. It is now a cliché that the world is a smaller place. We think nothing of jumping on a plane to travel to another country or continent. The most exotic locations are now destinations for mass tourism. Small business people are dealing across frontiers and language barriers like never before. The Internet brings different languages and cultures to our finger-tips. English, the hybrid language of an island at the western extremity of Europe seems to have an unrivalled position as an international medium of communication. But historically periods of cultural and economic domination have never lasted forever. Do we not lose something by relying on the wide spread use of English rather than discovering other languages and cultures? As citizens of this shrunken world, would we not be better off if we were able to speak a few languages other than our own? The answer is obviously yes. Certainly Steve Kaufmann thinks so, and in his busy life as a diplomat and businessman he managed to learn to speak nine languages fluently and observe first hand some of the dominant cultures of Europe and Asia. Why do not more people do the same? In his book The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey, Steve offers some answers. Steve feels anyone can learn a language if they want to. He points out some of the obstacles that hold people back. Drawing on his adventures in Europe and Asia, as a student and businessman, he describes the rewards that come from knowing languages. He relates his evolution as a language learner, abroad and back in his native Canada and explains the kind of attitude that will enable others to achieve second language fluency. Many people have taken on the challenge of language learning but have been frustrated by their lack of success. This book offers detailed advice on the kind of study practices that will achieve language breakthroughs. Steve has developed a language learning system available online at: www.thelinguist.com.

Russian: From Intermediate to Advanced is a vibrant and modern course designed to help students achieve advanced proficiency in Russian. Offering a flexible modular approach structured around contemporary themes, the course further develops reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills while also expanding the student’s cultural literacy. Key features include: Structured chapters presenting a wide assortment of readings that include blogs, forums and surveys as well as opinion pieces and commentaries. Each text is accompanied by assignments with increasing levels of difficulty. Authentic and up-to-date readings, video and audio excerpts covering a range of relevant social and cultural topics, including Demography, Youth Culture, Politics and Society, Economics and Globalization. Video clips from news programs that are used not only to develop listening comprehension but also introduce students to contemporary Russian society. Particular attention to helping students acquire advanced vocabulary and the ability to converse, discuss and argue about issues with extended paragraph-length discourse. Special focus on the development of strong listening and reading comprehension skills, ensuring that students understand the ideas and supporting details in narrative and descriptive texts and connected discourse. A free companion website at http://www.russian.ucla.edu/AdvancedRussian/ offering student and instructor video and audio resources, sample syllabi and tests as well as additional materials. Written by a highly experienced author team that has co-authored the first year Russian textbook Beginner’s Russian (2010) and the second-year textbook V Puti (2005). Russian: From Intermediate to Advanced will be an essential resource for undergraduate students in their third and fourth year of Russian language study. It is also suitable for heritage learners of Russian who have mastered literacy and are familiar with the grammatical structure of Russian.

Sputnik Part 2 is the second volume of an introductory Russian course designed to develop basic reading, writing, listening and communication skills. The author provides a step-by-step introduction to Russian with clear and simple explanations of grammar and sentence structure. Audio materials recorded by professional Russian narrators and actors help learners to acquire proper pronunciation. Interactive online activities and a friendly interface for learners and instructors with automatic grading of exercises and tests are designed to support effective learning and teaching. Dr. Rochtchina teaches Russian at the University of Victoria, Canada. She is also known for her online tutorial RussianForEveryone.com, which is visited by 300,000 people each year from all over the world.

Whether you're planning a trip to Russia or adding a second language to your resume, this book will help you to: recognize and read Cyrillic letters; pronounce Russian words like a native; ask for directions, order dinner, and conduct business; and hold your own in a conversation. Includes step-by-step lessons in vocabulary, grammar, and conversation.

Designed for students with no previous knowledge of the language, this intensive foundation course in Russian has an original approach to language learning and provides access to Russian life, culture, history and society.

This comprehensive foundation textbook is expressly designed for students embarking on a Russian language programme. Accompanied by 5 hours of audio materials, it develops the four key language skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening - and provides all the material required to reach intermediate level either at secondary school or during the first year of university. Highly interactive and activity-based, the course puts students firmly at the centre of the learning process, developing their autonomy as learners. It provides: thorough grounding in the grammar and structures of contemporary Russian; wide-ranging tasks and exercises for both classroom use and self study; informative texts selected to foster cultural awareness; topics including family life, education, history, geography, work and leisure; clear, attractive layout with lively illustrations to reinforce learning ; extensive reference features including a section on basic concepts of grammar; teachers' guidelines to enhance practical application in the classroom; and an on-line answer key.

This highly successful program assists in the development of all the language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) by presenting realistic settings, situations, and contexts. Perfect for use in an intermediate or advanced Russian course, V Puti offers conversational exercises, various readings (biographies, poems, literature and historical texts) and grammatical explanations and practice.