Филологический класс (Feb 2019)

IMAGE OF RUSSIA IN CHINESE TEXTBOOK IN RUSSIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: AXIOLOGICAL ASPECT

DOI
https://doi.org/10.26170/FK19-01-11
Journal volume & issue
no. 1 (55)
pp. 83 – 88

Abstract

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The article analyzes linguo-cultural and culture-oriented study materials in Russian as a foreign language in the textbook for Chinese students (Shi Techan, U Suczzyuan, Reading in Russian. Beijing: Higher education, 2006). The article treats the textbook as linguo-cultural phenomenon with the emphasis on axiological aspect. The goal of this research is to determine specific features of the images of Russia and the Russians which are constructed by the textbook. As a rule the authors of textbooks in foreign languages pay much attention to the structure and methodological aspect of study materials taking no notice of conceptual and axiological components of the textbook. However, the choice of language to be included in a textbook plays a great role not only from the point of view of language and communicative competence formation, but it is also important for elimination of stereotypes and presentation of true facts about the country. It is especially urgent for the texts written outside Russia. Textbooks in Russian as a foreign language published abroad are often the main materials used in Russian as a foreign language classes; they are often the only source of information about the country that is why the selection of topics for the textbooks is especially important. Thus, the analysis of the textbook mentioned above shows that texts included in the book do not give any objective information about the Russian culture and traditions. There are no texts about Russian literature, music, science, history, sport and other spheres of contemporary life in Russia. At the same time the textbook gives a lot of information about social and economic instability in Russia. All the facts revealed in this research make it possible to conclude that study materials in Russian as a foreign language approved by the government to be used in Chinese universities provide a one-sided and often distorted view of Russia.

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