Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (2).

Name: Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (2).
Rating: 4.3 (6 reviews)

In just a week you will be able to proudly say: “I have read Leo Tolstoy in Russian!" Even if you are a beginner!

Created byIrina Liner

Last updated 11/2017

Russian

What you'll learn

This course is a logical continuation of “Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (1)”. You will read and analyze five more short stories written by the Great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. All lectures are sub-titled and recorded twice: at a slower pace and at a faster pace. Plenty of supplementary materials, exercises and step-by step instructions will help you improve reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. At the end of this course, you will be able to put word stresses correctly, imitate native speaker's intonation, recognize and understand old language forms and idioms, expand Russian vocabulary, improve grammar, and so forth. Last but not least is that you will be introduced to the phenomena of Russian culture and mentality discovered by Leo Tolstoy.

Course content

1 section • 6 lectures • 55m total length

Introduction3:53
This introductory lecture tells you about what the course consists of and how it looks like, materials used, and kinds of activities offered to achieve learning goals.
Большая печка.9:35
You will read the subtitled short story “Большая печка” using texts with and without stresses. The story is recorded at a slower and then at a faster pace. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Helpful additional resources are provided. You will have an opportunity to compare the original text with the audio-version told in English.
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Stresses; Word order
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Grammar; Sentence structure
Reading and Comprehension
Царь и рубашка.10:08
You will read the subtitled short story “Большая печка” using texts with and without stresses. The story is recorded at a slower and then at a faster pace. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Helpful additional resources are provided.
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Stresses; Word order
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Grammar; Sentence structure
Reading and Comprehension
Лев и собачка.12:21
You will read the subtitled short story “Большая печка” using texts with and without stresses. The story is recorded at a slower and then at a faster pace. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Helpful additional resources are provided.
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Stresses; Word order
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Grammar; Sentence structure
Reading and Comprehension
Пожарные собаки.9:41
You will read the subtitled true story “Пожарные собаки” using texts with and without stresses. The story is recorded at a slower and then at a faster pace. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Helpful additional resources are provided.
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Stresses; Word order
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Grammar; Sentence structure
Reading and Comprehension
Старый дед и внучек.10:20
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Stresses; Word order
Reading and Comprehension; Spelling; Grammar; Sentence structure
Reading and Comprehension

Requirements

Upper beginner, low intermediate or higher level of Russian language proficiency.

Description

'Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (2)' is the second pilot sub course in the series 'Readings in Russian' which is planned to be continued. The major goal of the series is to help my virtual students start reading classical Russian literature at the upper-beginner level.

You would say: ‘No, this cannot be true! Russian classical literature is too complicated and this is not something to start learning this terribly difficult language with!’ Well, of course “War and Peace” or “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy, “Seagull” or “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov, poetry by Alexander Pushkin are not what I’m offering here.

For the series I have picked up well-known short stories for children by the Great Russian writers. In this second sub course you’ll read Five short stories by Leo Tolstoy: "Большая печка", "Царь и рубашка", "Лев и собачка", "Пожарные собаки", "Старый дед и внучек" . I am planning to continue with more texts by the author.

Every lecture contains an audio of one short story recorded at a slower pace, illustrated and/or subtitled for easier comprehension by the student. There are also some downloadable supporting materials, e.g. full texts of stories with and without word stresses, vocabulary notes, etc. Plenty of 'multiple choice', 'true/false', 'fill in the blanks' exercises with feedback are included. To get the maximum benefit from the course step-by-step instructions are provided. I also guarantee chat support in case students have any questions.

If you start right away then in just a week you will be able to proudly say: “I have read Leo Tolstoy in Russian!” – Я читал ЛьваТолстого на русском!

Who this course is for:

The course is recommended for everyone who is interested in Russian Language, Literature and Culture and who has at least an Upper beginner or Low intermediate level of proficiency in the Russian language.