The dialogues suggested are phenomenon in their coverage, given both in Russian and in English with such details. Also given in both Russian and English is language as you would need to use at the Railway station, at the Airport and the shop… The learner is never left stranded in whatever situation they find themselves. That is how thorough the book is.
Having ploughed through the text, the course, and now armed with an appreciable knowledge of the Russian language, the learner is given interesting questions in English, but they are expected to answer them in Russian. The author here uses aspects of the communicative approach. This approach is in a way a culmination of the foregoing methods. In this approach focus is on learner ability to communicate various functions, such as asking and answering stated questions, making requests, describing certain actions, narrating given situations and making comparisons. The communicative approach is achieved through task assignment and problem solving – the two key components of critical thinking. The strength of this approach is that learning happens in a context. Grammar is not taught in isolation, but in practical situations. Error correction is not emphasised (and this removes anxiety from the learner), as the understanding is that learners will naturally achieve accuracy through frequent use of, and communicating in the language rather than analysing it.
Teach culture alongside the language. This is strength of this text. Teaching communication is not enough in itself, exposure to the culture from which the language springs, will help the learners not just appreciate the real meaning of the words they are learning, but learn the language with relative ease. The inclusion of the proverbs and sayings of the wise, and its comparison to counterpart proverbs and sayings of the wise in important English speaking countries – Britain and America is highly appreciated. This is the culturological strategy the author recommends. The textbook combines Russian language teaching and intensive acquaintance with the Russian culture.
This book, therefore, positions the teaching of the language in the firm foundation of its context – the Russian culture. With this comes all the beauty of Russia as a country, its beautiful landscape, its colour, its rivers and lakes, its beautiful people, its names, its animals, its beautiful Arts – music, paintings, its folklore and literature, its science and scientists, its seasons etc. The author sums it all when she says: «Immersed in such an exciting atmosphere of culture, the student will understand that one cannot but know the Russian language, and one must know it well».