Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (1).

Name: Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (1).
Rating: 4.5 (54 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 12/2017

English

What you'll learn

At the end of this course, you will find yourself in an exciting adventure of reading classical Russian literature in the original. The adventure will start with well-known short stories written by the Great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy for children. Sub-titled and illustrated lectures are 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, e.g. put word stresses correctly, master native speaker's intonation, recognize and understand old language forms and idioms, expand Russian vocabulary and 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 • 7 lectures • 41m total length

Introduction to the Course2:51
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.
Лев Толстой. Косточка.2:23
You will read the illustrated and subtitled short story “Косточка” using texts with and without stresses. You will be able to better understand old forms and idioms explained in downloadable Vocabulary Notes. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Косточка
Косточка
Косточка
Лев Толстой. Котёнок.3:58
You will read the illustrated and subtitled short story “Котёнок” using texts with and without stresses. You will be able to better understand old forms and idioms explained in downloadable Vocabulary Notes. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Котёнок
Котёнок
Котёнок
Лев Толстой. Отец и сыновья.9:08
You will read the subtitled short story “Отец и сыновья” using texts with and without stresses. You will be able to compare the original text with the translation. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Отец и сыновья
Отец и сыновья
Отец и сыновья
Лев Толстой. Акула.5:04
You will read the illustrated and subtitled short story “Акула” using texts with and without stresses. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Акула
Акула
Акула
Лев Толстой. Мужик и водяной.12:55
You will read the subtitled fable “Мужик и водяной” using texts with and without stresses. You will be able to compare the original text with the translation. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Мужик и водяной
Мужик и водяной
Мужик и водяной
Лев Толстой. Филипок.5:33
You will read the illustrated and subtitled short story “Филипок” using texts with and without stresses. Exercises following the lecture will help you expand vocabulary, and also improve grammar, spelling, and pronunciation skills. Chat support will be provided to get feedback from the teacher in case you have questions.
Филипок
Филипок
Филипок

Requirements

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

Description

'Readings in Russian. Leo Tolstoy (1)' is the first 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 very first sub course you’ll read six short stories by Leo Tolstoy: Косточка, Котёнок, Акула, Филипок, Отец и сыновья, and Мужик и водяной. 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 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.