Drawing on numerous classics of Russian animation, this text is designed for a wide range of learners from advanced novice to intermediate to provide interesting authentic cultural materials in the study of the language. Each lesson is based on a well known and available animation and provides exercises in Russian language skills and a springboard to the discussion of Russian culture.

Animation for Russian Conversation draws on the best known Russian works of animation --Cheburashka, Karlson, the Hedgehog, and Vinni Pukh -- all classics of the Russian cinema. Intended for Russian students of the Novice High to Intermediate Mid levels according to ACTFL guidelines, this book will be interest to anyone learning Russian through authentic, but accessible Russian materials. Exercises cover vocabulary and grammar, with advanced exercises to challenge students further.

Instructors can select assignments based on the level of their group and their course goals. Some grammar exercises might best be used in conjunction with a regular textbook, depending on the level of the class. The Table of Contents includes a listing of grammar and lexical topics covered in each section. The animations in the text are generally widely available, but must be purchased separately from this book.

Table of Contents

About the Authors

Jason Merrill is Associate Professor of Russian at Michigan State University. He has taught all levels of Russian language and courses on Russian literature, culture, and cinema. He also teaches an introduction to the literature and cinema of Eastern Europe. He has published articles in the journals Russkaia literatura [St. Petersburg], Slavic and East European Journal, Elementa, Scando-Slavica, and Slavonica. He is the author of Russian Fairy Tales: A Student Reader. He also currently serves as the Book Review Editor for Folklorica: The Journal of the Slavic and East European Folklore Association.

Julia Mikhailova, Ph. D., is the Language Program Coordinator at the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto. She teaches methodology of teaching Slavic languages and graduate courses in Slavic linguistics as well as Russian language courses with significant cultural emphases. She is a certified Oral Proficiency Interview Tester. Her articles on Oral Proficiency in Russian were published in Foreign Language Annals and Russian Language Journal. Currently she serves as the Head of the Pedagogy Division of AATSEEL Program Committee.

Maria Alley is a Ph. D. candidate in Slavic Linguistics and Director of Language Programs at the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures at the Ohio State University. Her research interests include Russian morphology, second language acquisition and language pedagogy.

.... the book is very creative and fills a substantial void in our profession. The manuscript ... constitutes creative and important work. It has many pedagogical features that represent the latest thinking on foreign language teaching.....

~ Dr. Benjamin Rifkin, Temple University