Theme 1: Personal and Family Life

Greetings and Introductions

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Use appropriate forms of address to peers and adults when making introductions.
• Use appropriate gestures and expressions of greeting and leave-taking.
• Ask and respond to simple questions about someone else’s identity and well-being.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Differentiate between informal and formal exchanges.
• Comprehend phrases related to a person’s state of well-being.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Demonstrate attention to accuracy of register in introducing self and expressing greetings.
• Present rehearsed and spontaneous greetings and introductions.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Recognize and distinguish between various culturally-authentic gestures and levels of formality of greeting and leave-taking.
• Demonstrate understanding of hand-shaking, body language, and greetings, including those used in telephone, computer, and letter-writing situations.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss the use of morning and evening greetings.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Examine customs of greeting and leave-taking between the United States and Russian-speaking countries.
• Contrast the use of formal address in Russian and English, such as the art of accepting compliments and the use of the word "thank you".

Communication Across Communities

• Recognize the importance of greetings in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Ty/Vy
• Formal and informal expressions

Physical Descriptions and Personality Characteristics, Feelings, and Emotions

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Use a variety of adjectives to ask and answer questions about the physical appearance of people and objects.
• Ask and answer questions about a description, mood or emotional state.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written descriptions of physical appearance, personality traits and emotions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe physical and personality attributes using a variety of appropriate adjectives.
• Present descriptions, both rehearsed and spontaneous, of people and/or objects.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss cultural generalizations and stereotyping based on physical appearance.
• Discuss characteristics of well-known people from Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify well-known people from Russian-speaking countries who are studied in other disciplines.
• Identify well-known Russian-Americans.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Identify adjectives that are cognates and those that are false cognates.
• Compare adjective placement and agreement in English and Russian.
• Compare the verb "to be" in English versus the lack of it in Russian.

Communication Across Communities

• Describe well-known people in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Descriptive adjectives
• Possession of ordinary objects
• Agreement and placement of adjectives
• Subject pronouns
• Question and answer formation
• "to have" in Russian

Family Members

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions pertaining to family members and relationships, including pets.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify family members and relationships based on spoken and written descriptions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe family relationships.
• Describe family members and pets.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Identify characteristics of the family unit in various Russian-speaking countries.
• Explain the importance of the family in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Compare the role of the extended family in Russian-speaking countries and in the U.S.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast families in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Contrast ways to express possession.

Communication Across Communities

• Use print and Internet resources to access information about families in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Pet vocabulary
• Possessive adjectives
• Possession with genitive case
• Descriptive adjectives
• Present tense of expressions of possession

Clothing and Colors

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions pertaining to clothing and colors.
• Ask and answer questions to elicit a description of clothing and colors.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify clothing and colors based on spoken and written description.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Use descriptive adjectives and cases to describe clothing.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss standards and styles of dress in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the influence of climate and geography on dress in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss the use of color (e.g., in clothing, art, architecture).

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare standards and styles of dress in Russian-speaking and American cultures.
• Identify cognates and false cognates related to clothing and colors.
• Discuss adjective placement and agreement.
• Compare ways of expressing possession ('s in English vs. genitive case in Russian).

Communication Across Communities

• Identify differences in sizes and appropriateness of clothing.
• Describe clothing available on the Internet and through catalogues and/or advertisements from Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Colors and other descriptive adjectives
• Adjective agreement and placement
• "to be" and "to have" in Russian
• Use of possessive

Theme 2: School Life

Numbers and Time

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about age.
• Ask and answer questions about street addresses and telephone numbers.
• Ask and answer questions about time and scheduled activities.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Interpret a time schedule (bus, train, class, movie listing, or TV guide).

Oral and Written Presentation

• Explain a schedule of activities.
• Present information about ages, phone numbers, addresses, and class schedules.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss the way numerals are written in Russian.
• Discuss a typical day’s schedule in Russian-speaking countries (meal times, etc.).
• Discuss the metric system.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Explain the use of the metric system.
• Do simple mathematical computations in Russian.
• Discuss temperatures.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Discuss the concept of time in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare the 24-hour clock used in Russian-speaking countries to the American system of a.m. and p.m.
• Discuss the use in Russian of the period to indicate thousands and of the comma for decimals when writing and reading numbers.
• Discuss the use of the metric system.
• Compare Russian time expressions to English expressions such as quarter-past, half-past, noon, and midnight.

Communication Across Communities

• Interpret a time schedule in Russian.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Adverb "now" used for time in Russian
• "It is" vs. "at" what time in Russian

Days, Months, and Calendar

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about days of week, dates, and months.
• Ask and answer questions about birthdays and celebrations.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify dates of events and celebrations in the Russian-speaking world.
• Comprehend simple announcements that include dates.
• Understand written numerical information as used in newspapers, announcements, letters, brochures, etc.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Prepare and present a weekly activities calendar.
• Present important dates and celebrations.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Identify holidays and/or celebrations in the Russian-speaking world.
• Relate different products to celebrations such as New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter, and March 8 (International Women's Day).

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections with historical events from Russian-speaking cultures that involve or relate to the United States, such as World War 2 allies, Mir space station and the Cold War.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Recognize that the Russian calendar starts on Monday.
• Recognize that the days of the week and months of the year are not capitalized in Russian.
• Recognize that the order in saying and writing dates is different in Russian (day, month, and then year).

Communication Across Communities

• Use community resources to identify cultural celebrations within the student’s own community.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Phrases for asking and telling the date

Classes, Schedules and Supplies

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions related to class schedules and school subjects.
• Ask and answer questions about school supplies, furnishings, and rooms.
• Ask and answer questions related to a typical school day and routine.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand simple instructions related to classroom commands or procedures, and basic computer technology.
• Comprehend a class schedule, opinions of classes, and locations in the school.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Prepare and present a class schedule.
• Describe a class schedule and necessary materials for various classes.
• Identify in which rooms classes are held.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss the courses taken at various grade levels in Russian-speaking countries, including the quantity of courses and frequency of class sessions.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Compare names of courses in English with the names in Russian.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare education systems in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare a typical school day in the U.S. with those in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare grading scales in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify cognates and false cognates related to classes and school supplies.

Communication Across Communities

• Interpret a school schedule of a student from a Russian-speaking country.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to school schedules, rooms of the school and classroom objects
• Vocabulary related to telling time
• Question formation and interrogative expressions
• Adverbs of frequency

Theme 3: Social Life

Interests and Leisure Activities

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about interests and leisure activities, including likes and dislikes.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend simple, culturally-authentic announcements and advertisements related to leisure activities.
• Identify activities being described.
• Determine whether a person likes or dislikes a particular activity.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Tell the degree to which a person likes or dislikes various activities.
• Tell when and how frequently a person participates in various activities.
• Tell what leisure activities a person does or does not do.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Identify popular sports and leisure activities in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the role of leisure activities in a young person’s daily life.
• Discuss where young people meet during leisure time.
• Identify and discuss prominent individuals involved in sports and the arts in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the impact of geographic location on popular leisure activities.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Compare the sports studied and played in physical education (P. E.) class in the U.S. with sports played in Russian-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare extra-curricular activities in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare typical customs of socializing for young people.
• Contrast the use of various verbs and prepositions with sports and activities in English and Russian.
• Identify cognates and false cognates for interests or activities.

Communication Across Communities

• Describe sports and leisure activities in the Russian-speaking community.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• "It is appealing" used with infinitives in Russian
• Vocabulary for playing various sports
• Present tense verbs
• Question formation and interrogative expressions
• Adverbs of frequency
• Negation
• Vocabulary for likes and dislikes

Weather and Seasons

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about weather and seasons.
• Ask and respond to questions about activities and weather during different seasons.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify weather and seasons based on spoken and written descriptions.
• Identify weather and seasons as represented by symbols (e.g., picture of sun, cloud, rain).

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe a variety of weather conditions and seasons.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss the influence of weather on lifestyles and activities in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify varying climates in different geographic locations in Russia.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Describe the use of metric system in giving temperatures.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Identify the differences in seasons in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify cognates and false cognates related to weather and seasons.
• Discuss the influence of the Russian language on English weather expressions.

Communication Across Communities

• Interpret a Russian language weather report.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Seasonal activity vocabulary
• Weather expressions
• Instrumental case with seasons

Theme 4: Community Life

Cities, Places, Activities, and Transportation

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about a city.
• Ask about and give directions to a site within a town or city.
• Ask and answer questions regarding modes of transportation modes in a city.
• Ask and answer questions about when and where activities and/or celebrations take place.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify locations on a map.
• Identify locations where activities take place.
• Find a location based on verbal directions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Give directions to a city location or activity.
• Describe a day’s activities, including locations.   

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss the layout and characteristics of cities and towns in Russian-speaking countries (city squares, open markets, narrow streets in order neighborhoods, etc.).
• Discuss cities and regions in various Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify geographic locations and/or features of Russian-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare the use of mass transit in Russian-speaking countries and the United States.
• Analyze social issues relating to city life in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries (night life, etc.).
• Identify cognates and false cognates related to locations in a city, transportation, and directions.
• Compare one verb for "to be" in English vs. the lack of it in Russian.

Communication Across Communities

• Identify activities, celebrations and locations in Russian-speaking cities.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for giving directions
• Geography vocabulary
• Prepositions of location
• Question formation and interrogative expressions
• Commands
• Lack of present tense of the verb "to be" in Russian

Shopping

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about stores and types of merchandise.
• Discuss shopping experiences.
• Ask for or give the description of an item being purchased.
• Ask and answer questions regarding where items can be purchased and how much they cost.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify items for sale in an advertisement.
• Identify locations where specific items can be purchased.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe an item for sale in a store.
• Tell about the purchase or sale of an item.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss products unique to Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the differences in shopping customs between the U.S. and Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the importance of the outdoor market in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Convert foreign currency to U.S. dollars.
• Compare merchandise prices in the U.S. to those in Russian-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare the custom of bargaining in Russian-speaking countries and in the U.S.
• Demonstrate the use of informal and formal speech and the importance of using formal speech when shopping in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify cognates and false cognates related to shopping.

Communication Across Communities

• Identify merchandise available on the Internet, through catalogs, and/or in advertisements from Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Types of stores
• Adjective agreement and placement
• Present tense of "to buy" and "to cost" in Russian
• Courtesy expressions to use when making purchases
• Direct and indirect object pronouns
• Formal vs. informal
• Numbers

Restaurants and Food

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about food.
• Ask and answer questions about a meal or restaurant experience.
• Order or take an order for a meal at a restaurant or café.
• Ask and answer questions regarding items on a menu.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify grocery and food items in an advertisement, menu, recipe, etc.
• Identify locations where specific foods can be purchased.
• Comprehend written and oral information about items in a market.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe a restaurant meal.
• Present descriptions and opinions about food.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products

• Discuss the cuisines and eating customs of Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss shopping for food in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify food served at celebrations in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss typical mealtime schedules.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss the influence of Russian foods and cuisine in the United States.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Discuss the differences between Russian and American cuisine.
• Compare the role of food in celebrations in the U.S. and Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify Russian foods commonly used in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

• Demonstrate an understanding of recipes and/or menus from Russian-speaking countries, either via the Internet or from local restaurants serving Russian food.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Shopping for food
• Expressions for ordering a meal
• Present tense of "to have breakfast", "to have lunch", "to have dinner" in Russian
• Courtesy expressions to use at meal times
• Familiar and formal commands