Teaching English to Russian Students

  

 

 

 

 

Russian Adult Learners

Russian adults have a number of reasons for signing up for English language lessons.  Probably the most common reason is for work.  A number of my students work for companies which have international ties, especially with neighbouring Finland.  Others are motivated by a desire to improve their English for travel.  A majority of students say that they travel abroad at least once a year, particularly to popular destinations frequented by Peterburgers, such as Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy and Turkey, as well as Vietnam and Thailand in the far east.  Some of the younger adults, as well as citing the above, also state that English is needed for their university course or it is essential in their chosen profession.  And it is pleasing to hear that most say they actually like English as a language.

So, what are Russian adults like to teach?  In the 8 months I have been teaching in Saint Petersburg, I can say they have been an absolute pleasure to teach.  Maybe it is partly because they pay a lot of money for these courses (and the previously-mentioned motivational factors), but also because the people I have met so far have been genuinely pleasant.  The only problems I have encountered thus far is getting all of my students to do their homework on time.  One of the reasons for this problem is not due to lack of motivation, but because of a busy work schedule and/or family commitments.  And I also have to take into account, when teaching my evening classes, that they have already spent a full day at work, or university and their concentration can lapse at times. 

 What do Russian adults find difficult?  Anyone who has taught, or is teaching Russian students will find common problems with grammar and pronunciation.  Certain sounds are difficult to reproduce, such as 'th' (/ð/and /θ/)which can lead to ze /zə/ for the.  Another problem is connected with producing (British) English vowel sounds.  There is one vowel sound in particular that poses some difficulty: /I:/instead of the correct /I/ in words such as ship, list and city.  Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear sheep, instead of ship, least instead of list and so on.

When it comes to grammar, adult learners tend to miss out the indefinite and definite articles in sentences.  The and a/an do not have equivalents in the Russian language.  Using these articles is an alien concept.  Just as one student put it: "Why do you have to use the and a?"  I explained, but he was still baffled.  It really is that alien to native speakers of Slavonic languages! Expect to remind your learners the rules surrounding their usage several more times.

Problems that Russian learners have when learning English is quite a large topic.  I have only highlighted a few of the ones I have noticed thus far in my stay in Russia.  Here's a link for more information on the subject: 

 

 http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/langdiff/russian.htm

 

http://www.tedpower.co.uk/l1russian.html

 

Teaching Russian children and teenagers

It's good to learn new things


 



Children and teenagers tend not to spend their own money on lessons.  They are usually in your class because their parents want them there - to improve their English and boost their results at school.  And it's a good way to keep them occupied with something positive, and out of trouble.  It may also provide mum and dad with some extra peace and quiet.  Some teenagers may come across as awkward and unmotivated, but I think it is always important to do two things:  set the boundaries as soon as you meet them; be firm but fair, and give plenty of praise for their efforts in the classroom . Also, one must remember - they are children/teenagers.  'Nuff said, innit....

I have been very fortunate with the children I have taught.  Although they have ranged from the hyperactive and slightly annoying to the mature and extremely polite, none have been a real problem.  In fact, they have been a delight to teach.  How different they are from some of the children I taught in secondary schools when I was a history teacher in the UK!

 

 

 

 





Victory Day - 9th May 2014

As mentioned in my previous post, Victory Day on 9th May of each year is a very special occasion in Russia and is also a public holiday.  While Moscow boasts a very grand military parade, Saint Petersburg also has its own parade and fireworks display.  Across the country people marked the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, to which the Soviet Union paid a very high price: in the tens of millions.  This city alone lost over half a million civilians during the blockade between 8th September 1941 and 27th January 1944.  Most of those died from starvation, the bombing and disease.  The Red Army lost over a million soldiers defending the city.  Therefore, with such huge numbers of people killed, captured and missing, it is small wonder that this remains in the collective conscience of ordinary Russians today.

 

The huge human cost in lives during the Siege of Leningrad




Victory Day in the Hero City of Leningrad

Victory Day ribbon in the colours of the Order of St George

 

 



In the western world we celebrate V.E Day, but this does not really compare to the scale of the celebrations in modern Russia.  It is a big deal, and people of all ages participate.  There are the dwindling numbers of veterans who take part, with their medals on their jackets and coats.  There are also members of the armed forces of the Russian Federation who march on parade and down the avenues of Saint Petersburg.  This also always contains a contingent of military cadets from the army and naval academies; of whom some are only a little over 10 years of age.  Then there are groups of young folk, dressed in period uniforms of the Red Army. 

 



 



Re-enactors in Red Army and Navy Uniforms

 

The day had started off on a wet note.  It had been raining heavily.  So,  I decided to see the procession that was starting (near me) from Sovietskaya Street and would make its way past the victory obelisk in Ploschad Vosstaniya and onto Nevsky Prospekt.  Its final destination would be the Peter and Paul Fortress several kilometres away.  I walked passed the gathering of re-enactors, veterans, soldiers and civilians as I made my way to the area around the metro station.  This would give me a fairly good view of the parade which would start at 5 pm.  Just before the start it began to rain.  And when it rains here, it pours.  However, this did not dampen people's spirits and I can only describe the atmosphere around me as emotional - sombre and yet jubilant.  I looked at the ancient faces of the veterans and wondered about the pains they had gone through, the loss of friends and family.  This brought a tear rolling down my cheek.  I suppose a lot of tears were mixing with the rain that day. 

 

 



A car for some veterans.  Hero City of Leningrad is the sign on the building

Then the parade began.  At the vanguard of the procession were troops holding banners with the names of the various fronts (army groups) of the Great Patriotic War.  To their rear were the drummers and musicians.  I think the drums made the spectacle even more dramatic.  The deep booms echoed throughout the soaked streets.  Next came the veterans and the re-enactors, and then finally ordinary citizens of Saint Petersburg carrying placards with the pictures and names of the fallen.  Again, very emotional.  But, what struck me were the cheers coming from the crowd.  Every time a car full of veterans passed by a huge urrah! could be heard from the well-wishers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, here is a video I made of the occasion:

 

 

 

 С Днём Победы! = Happy Victory Day!

 

Next year should be even bigger as it is the 70th Anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Armed Forces of The Russian Federation

Next week is Victory Day on 9th May.  This happens every year to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany in The Great Patriotic War, as the Russians call the Soviet part of the Second World War.  Parades are held in cities; the largest being in Moscow.  However, my host city, Saint Petersburg, will hold theirs on Palace Square, outside the Hermitage Museum.  This I intend to see and take some video footage, as well as some photos which I'll post on this blog.

 



So, the purpose of VD is to remember those who served in the Red Army, in defence of the Motherland and the final westward assault on the Third Reich ending in May 1945.  As time passes, fewer and fewer veterans of that conflict are able to attend.  However, they are not forgotten.  The parade will consist of members of the modern armed forces of The Russian Federation, including the city's cadets.

Palace Square with St Isaac's Cathedral in the background

 

 

Female soldiers and cadets (above) Russian veterans (below)

 

 

 

Russian Forces Today

The modern Russian army, air force and navy may not be on the grand scale of the old Soviet armed forces, but it is still a large size with a huge amount of firepower.  Eyes are now looking at the Russian military as the crisis in eastern Ukraine continues.  Of course the question is: will they be used to intervene in Ukraine in the near future?  Whatever the answer, the facts are quite clear about the Russian military:  they are well-equipped, have large numbers and have some of the best-trained and experienced special forces in the world.  A formidable foe for any army.

 

Russian Armed Forces (HD)

 

It is not uncommon to see young conscripts and cadets walking around the city in their uniforms.  I see them nearly everyday on the metro.  Some of the cadets attend a military school  I say school, because they are just schoolboys in military uniform.  When a young man reaches eighteen, if he is deemed physically and mentally fit, he is eligible to do a period of national service.  This can be delayed if the man enters university.  While thousands of young men avoid service each year (resulting in arrests), tens of thousands are fed into the ranks of the Russian military. 

 

 

 

Source:   http://www.ft.com

 

As you can see by the numbers above, it's a military that dwarfs my own country's numbers. 

 

The Army: Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации

 

    

 

Army uniform insignia with tricolour (above) VDV paratroopers (below)

 VDV: Воздушно-десантные войска - Air-Land-Forces

 

Special Forces - Speznaz

 

The first time I had heard of Speznaz (special forces) was a film from the 80s starring Dolph Lundgren.  It was called 'Red Scorpion' They were portrayed as the Soviet elite.  Today Russia's Speznaz can be found in the army and the Ministry of Interior/FSB.  GRU Speznaz are attached to the intelligence wing of the army - ГРУ ГШ) or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye Generalnovo Shtaba (Главное Разведывательное Управление Генерального Штаба) meaning Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff.  During the last decade or so, Speznaz have been used to fight against separatists in the Caucuses  - most notably in Chechnya and Dagestan.

 

 



 GRU Speznaz:  Russia's elite

  

 

The Airforce:  Военно-воздушные cилы России

 

 

 

 

MiGs and Sukhoi fast jets make up the fighter wings of the Russian Air Force.  The picture above is the new MiG 35 multirole fighter which was derived from the very capable and agile MiG 29 Fulcrum.  It first flew in 2007.

 

The iconic Hind attack helicopter has been revamped into the new Mi-35:

 

 

The Kamov Ka-50 below: 

 

 

 

The Navy:  Военно-морской Флот Российской Федерации (ВМФ России)

 

 

 

 

 

And finally... Russian Navy hovercraft lands on a crowded beach:

 

 

 



The Ukraine and Crimea

It has been on my mind for several months now.  When the Russians seized Crimea I thought this at the very least could trigger a new Cold War between Russia and NATO countries.  At the very worst it could trigger a Third World War - and we know how that would end? 

I'm not going to repeat what has already been reported about the on-going tension between my host country of Russia and it's neighbour Ukraine (and the west).  But, it has got me worried.  Now, at the best of times I am a natural worrier.  If there was nothing to worry about, I would still worry  - about the fact there was nothing to worry about.  So, when there was talk about the crises escalating into a possible military conflict in the region, I thought...oh shit, we might be at war very soon!  I thought and worried some more  Okay, if the proverbial hits the fan and I have to leave Russia, where am I going to go?  The airports may be closed or overcrowded with EU nationals clambering to escape the Federation.  Well, I am in Saint Petersburg, and that means there's always a land route to Finland.  I pictured myself getting on a coach to Helsinki, or if that was not viable, trudging across the border.

 



    

 

This would be a pretty cool way to cross the border  All I need now is a sleigh, some huskies and some snow!

 

 

 

Then there was a lull.  As you already know, Russia held a referendum in the Crimean peninsular, amidst an outcry of foul-play from the west and the new Ukrainian government.  In a short space of time Crimea was incorporated into The Russian Federation.  And now tensions are building up again.  Armed gunmen have seized police stations in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.  The Russian government have said that they would send in their special forces if the Ukrainian military try to act against them.  Claim and counter-claim from both sides.  This is politics and it is always the little man (the general public who just want to get on with their lives) who suffers.  The question is now:  will this lead to war?

 

 

 

 

I hope not.  A war between Russia and Ukraine would lead to a wider conflict and may be even nuclear war.  While the situation worsens and politicians on both sides fan the flames, they have forgotten that they are putting all of our lives in jeopardy.  I sincerely wish for a peaceful outcome to this crisis.  Both sides have something to offer, but please, for the sake of ordinary Russians, Ukrainians and the rest of the world, the politicians must de-escalate and stop playing with fire.  Nor, do I like the way that nationalists have taken this as an opportunity to voice their xenophobia - be they Russian, Ukrainian, or whoever.  As a Briton living in Russia, I think it is sad that neighbours, who have so much in common, are now at logger-heads.  Who's to blame?  Politicians with their own agenda and a minority of bigots in both countries.  This reminds me of the conflict in Northern Ireland with idiots on both sides of the divide stirring up hatred.  It has to stop.  I've heard and read some unsavoury comments - anti-Russian and anti-Ukrainian, in the last few weeks.  Most people, as I've already said, want to live in peace.  For those who want a fight, you are risking a lot - and for what?

 

As John Lennon once sang:  

 

In the meantime, I'm going to carry on as normal, teaching my classes and enjoying the Russian spring.  I still want to be here tomorrow, and the day after that, and not on some evacuation flight, or thousands of metres into the stratosphere!

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 



 



 

Ice, snow and Sochi

Winter Arrives

The first snow arrived on 27th November.  For the last several months we have had varying degrees of snowfall.  Due to its maritime climate and its urban micro-climate (I used to teach all of this stuff when I taught geography), Saint Petersburg doesn't experience the same kind of harsh conditions like Moscow, or even the countryside in the Leningrad District.  Not long after the first proper snowfall, the temperature began to plummet.  When it reached -8 degrees Celsius, I exclaimed to various people how cold I felt.  My Australian flatmate agreed.  In fact, he felt it worse than me.  As for my Russian colleagues and students, they brushed it off as being a rather mild start to the winter.  "Just wait until February" they said.  "It will get down to minus twenty five at least."  At the time of writing this, February has already passed, and it never got below minus twenty one.  Still bloody cold though!

First snowfall in St Petersburg - view from my window

Trudging through the snow carefully so as not to slip on the ice below, I could feel the icy wind on my cheeks.  It felt like my face was being eaten by the air (with a slight burning sensation).  I was grateful to have my new beanie hat on.  This weather is really not good for bald men like myself.  And the snood around my neck kept the cold out further.  But, my boots were really suffering.  I had previously taken advice about applying a water-proofing spray to them, however, the mixture of the salt and water would always leave a white deposit on the surface of the leather.  "The Russian winter will eat your boots" said one student.  How true!  Face and boots, both devoured by the weather. 

By the way, if you do come to Russia in the wintertime, do buy some of that spray.  It will prolong the life of your footwear.  And make sure you spray it onto your shoes or boots outside, or at least with the windows wide open, if you apply it indoors.  And it reeks!

Here's a little minute-long video I shot on the way to work.  This is around Ploschad Vosstaniya, just near the metro station, as already mentioned in an earlier post:

 

 

 

 

Traditional Russian winter headgear - The Shapka Ushanka (шапка-ушанка):

 

 

 

шапка-ушанка

 

The 2014 Winter Olympics - Sochi 

 



Years of preparation, marketing and hype later The Winter Olympics finally arrived in Russia.  Although I had no plans on travelling all the way south to Sochi, I was kind of looking forward to it.  I had this idea of getting addicted to watching the skiing and the biathlon and feeling the spirit of the games.  Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.  I watched the ceremony and was impressed by the spectacle.  I liked the fact that the British team wore shapka-ushanka headwear, and how I laughed at the American and German teams' gaudy designs.  The intention was there - yes, I will follow it properly this time.  I am in the host country afterall.   However, my timetable clashed with the events I wanted to follow and I soon lost interest.  Oh well. 

   



 

He also looks familiar


But wait....here comes The Empire!