Post-Reading

1. Answer the following questions using the information you got from the text:

• Why do you think it's hard to describe the Russian national character?

• What are the major factors which influenced the formation of the Russian national character and value system?

• What national features and cultural values of Russians have roots in the geographical position of the country?

• What Russian traits of character stem from the harsh climatic conditions?

• What geographical and historical factors helped to develop communalism into a predominant Russian value? What are other cultural values of Russians which were brought about by their agricultural way of life?

• What is the attitude of participants of Russian culture towards family and friendship? (When expressing your point, give examples from the text as well as from your experience.)

• Why, according to researchers, do spiritual values dominate the material in Russia?

• Is Russian culture and its traditional value system changing nowadays? Will the Russian national character remain something of a mystery for a Westerner? Why? Why not?

2. Write down a heading to each paragraph of the text. Circle the linking words and signals. Analyze the structure of the text. Present its plan/content graphically.

3. From the text, write out all the word-combinations with the word 'Russian' as an attribute and 'of-phrases with the components 'Russian', 'Russians ', 'Russia'. Explain their meanings.

4. a) In the text, find the English for:

аршин, специалист в области межкультурной коммуникации, тайна/загадка (2), уникальность, сложность, жажда/сильное желание, покорность/послушание, суеверность, несовместимый, противоречие, черты/особенности характера (3), происходить/произойти от, уязвимый, захватчики, уходить корнями в, терпимость, выносливый/терпеливый, осмотрительный, находчивый/изобретательный, вспышка/взрыв (смеха, ярости и т.п.), работать рывками, товарищество/единство, взаимный, высоко/весьма уважаемый, равенство/уравнивание всех членов общества в правах, преобладающий/доминирующий, обязанность, непредсказуемость, православный, сострадание, самопожертвование, презрение, чуждый/чужеродный, спорный, обнаруживать/показывать.

b) Choose 5-7 of the translated vocabulary items and use them in the sentences of your own.

5. a) Make up a list of geographical historical and other factors which influenced the formation of the Russian value system and national character. Arrange your findings into the table, showing the cause-effect relationship between the information in the left and in the right boxes. (You might want to add more ideas of your own.)

 

Factors	Values and Features of Russian National Character
beneficial geographical position extended borders	patriotism, sense of vulnerability, spirit of community, distrust to foreigners
long distances, vast territory	tolerance to other cultures, intertia...
rich national resources	…
…	…
…	…

In small groups, discuss your ideas with your classmates. Make use of the expressions:

• What do you think of...? What's your idea of...? What can you say about...? When (where, who, etc.) do you think...? May I ask...? Would you mind telling me...?

• I see. I got you. I didn't (quite) get you. Did I get you right...? Do you mean to say that...? Is that the idea/point...?

• Sorry. What did you say/mean? I'm sorry. I didn’t catch that. Could you please repeat that?

6. Make up a list of mainstream Russian values and, based on your cultural experience, give examples of everyday behaviors where these values are reflected. Share your ideas with your classmates by giving a one-minute talk about each point.

Model:

1. Value - communalism

Everyday behaviour - Pushing and shoving in crowds bring no hard feeling.

Answer pattern: From my perspective, the most crucial value of participants of Russian culture is communalism (or collectivism). This value is reflected in everyday behaviors of Russians. For example, pushing and shoving in crowds bring no hard feeling. Also, it's a common practice for Russians to arrange recreation in groups (often with colleagues they work with).

2 ....

Make use of the expressions:

• I feel... From my perspective... As far as I'm concerned... That's one way of
looking at it. But I think/believe... I think it goes further than that...

• To be reflected in... to be a reflection of... (in)appropriate behavior... to be
acceptable in one's culture... to be considered (appropriate, acceptable, normal, typical, rude,
abrupt, etc.), by Russian standards, to be a common practice, to mean (dis)respect to sb, to be
intended as an insult to sb, to be insulted

7. Represent 3 to 5 ideas from the text you strongly agree with. Support them with arguments and your own examples.

Choose 1 or 2 ideas from the text you can 7 agree with. Give reasons.

Statement models:

• Russian culture is full of contradictions.

• The harsh climate influenced the formation of the Russian national character.

• Russians are hospitable.
Make use of the expressions:

• I agree (entirely/completely) (here). 1 couldn't agree more. You know, that's exactly what I think. That's my way of looking at it too. That's (absolutely) true. It goes without saying that...

• (I'm sorry, but) I have to disagree (here). I couldn't agree. I've got some reasons to disagree. I've got an argument to oppose. I'm not sure I can agree. There may be something in it but... I guess that's partly true, but... No, that's wrong. Nothing of the kind. On the contrary.

8. Look through the list of common Russian proverbs and sayings and match them to the English equivalents. What values and features of Russian character do they reflect? In the grid, write the value or feature of the Russian national character which is linked to each proverb/saying. The first one has already been done for you.

• Один в поле - не воин.

• Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе.

• Друг познается в беде.

• Неделя в апреле/мае год кормит.

• Родная кровь - не водица.

• Бог терпел и нам велел.

• Семь раз отмерь, один отрежь.

• Пришла беда - отворяй ворота.

• Коси, коса, пока роса.

• Волков бояться - в лес не ходить.

• Кто рано встает, тому Бог подает.

• Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает.

 

Russian Proverbs and Sayings	English Equivalents	Values and Characteristic Features of Russians
1.	a. The early bird catches the worm.	industry hardworking
2.	b. Like mother, like daughter.
3.	c. Nothing venture, nothing have.
4.	d. Misfortunes never come alone.
5.	e. Make hay while the sun shines.

6.	f. One is not a soldier in the battlefield.
7.	g. A stitch in time saves nine.
8.	h. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
9.	i. God endured, so we have to endure too.
10.	j. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
11.	k. Look before you leap.
12.	1. Blood is thicker than water.

b) Choose I -3 of the Russian proverbs and decipher their meanings. Use them in short situations.

Are the values in Russian culture the same as, or different from the values of Americans? Discuss your answers in small groups.

Make use of the expressions:

• To begin with,... Well, to continue... Well, then... By the way... I've been thinking... Speaking of... As to... In short... To sum it up... To resume... Let's leave it at that. Let' drop the subject. It's a matter of opinion. It depends.

• There's just more point I'd like to make...Have you got anything to add (to what Mary said)? Does anybody share Mary's opinion (views)? Could someone sum up what has been said? Let's just run through the arguments for and against. On the one hand... On the other hand…