Master reading Leo Tolstoy's stories in Russian in just a week! Perfect for beginners with audio, exercises, and step-by-step guidance.
This course lets you jump into reading Leo Tolstoy's short stories in Russian! It's perfect for beginners and offers friendly audio, exercises, and support. In just a week, you'll be able to say you've read Tolstoy in Russian. How cool is that?
In just a week you will be able to proudly say: “I have read Leo Tolstoy in Russian!" Even if you are a beginner!
'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!
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.
Irina Liner, PhD Qualifications: Native Russian speaker with over 20 years of in-depth experience in teaching English to Russian students of Economics at Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (Russia) and Russian to native and non-native Russian speakers (private individual and group teaching). PhD in Russian language and Literature (Russia, 2004); Fulbright 2009 – 2010 Faculty Development...
Thank you very much, useful enough for starting practices...
It's quite a leap, but there are resources provided and I have a good dictionary, so I think I'll enjoy this.
I find the vocabulary too hard. Is there somewhere to down load it?
I enjoyed this course very much. Good choice of materials, excellent resources, and the instructor has beautiful pronunciation. If she offers a second course of short readings, by Tolstoy or other Russian authors, I would enthusiastically sign up. I appreciated her fast response when I asked a question about the New Yorker review of the War and Peace musical. Responsiveness is always a good sign!
The quizzes make sure the student has really carefully reviewed the stories and were very well thought out.
i wish I knew something more about how these stories came to be, what collections are available, and a little bit about why and when Tolstoy decided to write or collect them. But that's just a comment - and not at all a complaint!
Thank you for a fun Russian review.
I can barely hear the reading voice -- very soft and huge contrast with the rest (music). :(
Great course! I absolutely liked the lectures, and all the supplementary materials are of great help! Very clear Vocabulary Notes with old forms and idioms, translated and used in context, verbs conjugated, etc. Adding articles, interviews and videos in the Introductory lecture is a great idea. I will be back to the course every time you publish something new. Thanks!
Thank you for the great course Irina! Waiting for new ones from you!
Great course! Thank you!
I absolutely love Leo Tolstoy! My Russian is not good enough to read his great books in the original, though. Thank you, Irina, for making it easier. Such a great start! Now I can really say 'I read Leo Tolstoy in Russian!' Waiting for more courses from you!
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James W. R.
I enjoyed it very much. The quizzes helped reinforce the learning.