Beginner's Russian with Interactive Online Workbook, 2nd edition

By Anna S. Kudyma, Frank J. Miller, Olga E. Kagan and Michael A. Lavery

Start speaking Russian today!

Now in an updated second edition, Beginner’s Russian with Interactive Online Workbook offers an innovative, easy, and thorough way to speak, and read Russian confidently. This complete Russian course includes a user-friendly textbook and interactive online workbook. The carefully-paced, relevant lessons cover grammar and language basics in the context of everyday situations related to family, jobs, introductions, dining out, the Internet, and much more. The chapters are designed for the beginning student, and are full of photos, cartoons, games, and exercises alongside easy-to-understand lessons.

This new edition includes updated vocabulary to reflect ongoing changes in contemporary Russian culture and society, new speaking and writing activities that allow students to interact with technology and media, and new individual and group projects and oral presentations to engage learners' creativity and help them develop communicative competency.

In addition to the book, you have access to an interactive website full of videos, audio, and self-correcting exercises. The enriching material on the website reinforces the basics of the lessons in the book, helping you acquire Russian skills in a natural, engaging way.

• Thorough explanations and instructions offer a gradual introduction to the language, Cyrillic alphabet, and grammar
• An interactive website features correct pronunciation by native speakers and helps learners start speaking Russian right away
• Ideal for individual self-study or classroom use
• Each chapter will take 5-6 hours of classroom instruction, or approximately 10-12 hours of study for the independent learner.
• Students should be able to attain the ACTFL Novice High or Intermediate Low levels of proficiency by the end of the course

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9780781887397

Anna S. Kudyma

Anna S. Kudyma is Senior Lecturer and Russian Flagship Academic Coordinator in the Department of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Languages and Cultures at UCLA.

Book preview

ГЛАВА 1

РУССКИЙ АЛФАВИТ: ЧАСТЬ 1

Chapter 1. The Russian Alphabet: Part 1

1-1. Интервью́. Listen to the interviews and answer the questions.

Interview 1

1. What is the woman’s name?

a. Tanya

b. Nina

c. Olga

2. What is she?

a. an artist

b. a student

c. a journalist

3. Where does she live?

a. Moscow

b. St. Petersburg

c. Washington

Interview 2

1. What is the man’s name?

a. Ivan

b. Victor

c. Sasha

2. What is he?

a. a businessman

b. a journalist

c. a student

3. Where does he live?

a. Moscow

b. St. Petersburg

c. New York

In this section you will learn:

the consonants м,п,т, and к

the vowels а, о, and э

the introductory word ЭТОthis is, that is, it is, these are, those are

the question word КТО?Who?

about Russian intonation

1-2. Listen and repeat after the speaker.

Comment 1-1

1. There are no Russian equivalents for the English articles a, an, the.

2. The position of the stress in words of two or more syllables must be memorized!

3. The present tense form of the verb to be is usually omitted.

4. Unstressed ‘a’ or ‘o’ at the end of a word is pronounced ‘uh’ [ә], like the ‘a’ in the last syllable of English momma, papa: ма́ма [mámә], па́па [pápә], э́то [étә], Эмма [émmә], То́ма [tómә].

1-3. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) Read out loud and give the English equivalents. See Comment 1-1.

1. Это ма́ма. This is …

2. Это па́па. This is …

3. Это Эмма.

4. Это Том.

5. Это То́ма.

6. Это кот.

Comment 1-2

Intonation

1. When asking questions with a question word… (Who? What? Where? etc.) the tone first rises on the question word and then falls on the last stressed syllable, similar to English.

2. Affirmative declarative sentences are pronounced with a falling tone.

1-4. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, read the following questions and answers out loud. Give the English equivalents. See Comment 1-2.

Кто э́то? – Who is it? / Who’s this?

(for people and animals)

1. – Кто э́то?

– Это ма́ма.

2. – Кто э́то?

– Это па́па.

3. – Кто э́то?

– Это кот.

4. – Кто э́то?

– Это То́ма.

5. – Кто э́то?

– Это Том.

6. – Кто э́то?

– Это Эмма.

1-5. In pairs, look at the pictures and ask each other questions about them following the example below.

Example:

– Кто э́то?

– Это ____________________.

Эмма

кот

Том, па́па, ма́ма

1-6. Russian bingo. Listen to the speaker and cross out the words you hear. When you’ve crossed out all the words in one line, say BINGO — you’ve won!

1-7. Match the printed words with their handwritten counterparts. Copy the handwritten words.

1-8. Crossword puzzle.

Across

2. this

3. Tom

5. dad

6. Toma

Down

1. who

2. Emma

4. mom

1-9. Unscramble the following words.

1. отк ______________

2. ток ______________

3. аммэ ____________

4. амам ____________

5. отэ ______________

6. мот _____________

1-10. Write the dictation.

1. ма́ ___________________________

2. па́ ___________________________

3. ко ___________________________

4. То ___________________________

5. к ____________________________

6. Э ____________________________

7. К ____________э́то?

8. Это __________________________

Complete the following exercises on the course website.

Chapter 1: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4.

In this section you will learn:

the consonants д, н, and ч

the vowels e and я

what hard and soft consonants are

personal pronouns

how to pronounce unstressed o and a

more about intonation

the question word ЧТО? What?

how to say not in Russian

Comment 1-3

Hard and soft consonants

Most Russian consonants represent sounds that can be pronounced hard or soft. The hardness or softness of a consonant is most often determined by the vowel that follows it. The consonants т, д, and н are dental sounds. The hard consonants in the combinations та [ta], да [da], на [na], are pronounced with the tip of your tongue against your upper front teeth.

You can pronounce these consonants soft, as in the combinations те [ţe], де [ḑe], не [ņe], with the tip of your tongue touching (or close to) your lower front teeth and with the mid-part of your tongue touching the ridge above your upper front teeth.

The consonant ч [č] (pronounced like ch in chair) is one of three consonants that is always pronounced soft (i.e. with the tip of your tongue touching (or close to) your lower front teeth and with the mid-part of your tongue touching the ridge above your upper front teeth).

а, о, э indicate that the preceding consonant is hard.

е, я indicate that the preceding consonant is soft.

е, я are pronounced [je], [ja] after a vowel or at the beginning of a word.

1-11. Listen and repeat after the speaker. See Comment 1-3.

Comment 1-4

Pronouncing unstressed O and A

Russian words have only one stressed syllable. An unstressed O or A at the end of a word (э́то, ма́ма) is pronounced ‘uh’ [ə], like the unstressed ‘a’ in English words like about, mama, papa.

O or A at the beginning of a word or in the syllable before the stress is pronounced as a weak ‘a’ [ʌ].

Examples:

1-12. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, read the following short dialogs out loud and give the English equivalents. See Comment 1-4.

– Кто э́то?

– Это па́па, ма́ма, я!

– Кто э́то?

– Это моя́ ма́ма!

Это она́.

– Кто э́то?

– Это па́па. Это он.

– Кто э́то?

– Это Та́ня. Это она́.

– Кто э́то?

– Это Пе́тя. Это он.

– Кто э́то?

– Это кот. Это он.

Learn the following pronouns:

я – I

[ja]

моя́ – my

[mʌjá]

он – he

[on]

она́ – she

[ʌná]

оно́ – it

[ʌnó]

Comment 1-5

Intonation

To ask a question without a question word, raise your voice on the stressed syllable of the word in question. Do not change the word order.

1-13. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, read the following short dialogs out loud and give the English equivalents. See Comment 1-5.

1. – Это па́па.

– Это па́па?

– Да, э́то он.

2. – Это Яна.

– Это Яна?

– Да, э́то она́.

3. – Это ма́ма.

– Это ма́ма?

– Да, э́то она́.

Это моя́ ма́ма.

4. – Это Пе́тя.

– Это Пе́тя?

– Да, э́то он.

5. – Это Ка́тя.

– Это Ка́тя?

– Да, э́то она́.

6. – Это кот.

– Это кот?

– Да, э́то он.

1-14. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) Ask and answer the questions following the example below.

Example:

1. Это па́па.

– Кто э́то? Это па́па?

– Да, э́то па́па. Это он.

2. Это ма́ма.

3. Это Та́ня.

4. Это кот.

5. Это Ка́тя.

6. Это Пе́тя.

7. Это Том.

8. Это Эмма.

9. Это То́ма.

1-15. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) Read the sentences and ask the appropriate question: кто? or что?

Но́вые cлова́

окно́ – window

мяч – ball

апте́ка – drugstore

по́чта – post office

Example:

1.Это дом. Что э́то?

2.Это Том. Кто э́то?

3.Это ма́ма.

4.Это окно́.

5.Это Пе́тя.

6.Это мяч.

7.Это па́па.

8.Это апте́ка.

9.Это Том.

10. Это по́чта.

11. Это Аня.

12. Это кот.

13. Это Та́ня.

14. Это дом.

Кто э́то? – Who is it/this?

(for people and animals)

Что э́то? – What is it/this?

(for inanimate nouns)

In the word что [čto], ч is pronounced sh [š]. To pronounce the [š] sound correctly, point the tip of your tongue to the top of your mouth.

1-16. КТО? or ЧТО? Read each word out loud and cross out the word in each group that doesn’t belong.

1-17. Look at the pictures. In pairs, ask and answer the appropriate question for each picture below: Кто э́то? or Что э́то? Write down your answers.

Example:

– Кто э́то?/Что э́то?

– Это ________________.

1. __________.

2. __________.

3. __________.

4. __________.

5. __________.

6. __________.

Comment 1-6

Negation

Negation is expressed by placing the particle HE before the word to be negated. This particle is usually not stressed and is pronounced [ņɩ]. Pronounce HE as part of the next word.

Это не Аня. That’s not Anya.

[étə ņɩ͜ áņə]

1-18. Look at the pictures. In pairs, make up your own questions and answer them. See Comment 1-6.

1-19. Russian bingo. Listen to the speaker and cross out the words you hear. When you’ve crossed out all the words in one line, say BINGO — you’ve won!

1-20. Match the printed words with their handwritten counterparts. Copy the handwritten words.

1-21. Crossword puzzle.

Across

2. dad

5. she

7. he

9. drugstore

10. my

Down

1. yes

3. post office

4. mom

5. window

6. cat

8. no

10. ball

1-22. Write the dictation.

мя__________

о___________

____________

о___________

ок_________

ап_________а

по́_________а

А_________

Ч_________это?

Э_________м_________

К_________э́то?

Это Т_________

Complete the following exercises on the course website.

Chapter 1: 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9.

In this section you will learn:

the consonants б,с,р, and й

the vowels у and ы

the soft sign ь

how to say ‘hello’ and ‘good-bye’

how to say what someone is

gender and using the pronouns он,она́, and онó

1-23. Listen and repeat after the speaker.

а,о,у,э,ы indicate that the preceding consonant is hard.

я,е,ь (the soft sign) indicate that the preceding consonant is soft.

1-24. Greetings and taking leave. Listen and repeat after the speaker. Read and memorize.

1-25. What would you say: До́брое у́тро or До́брый день? Working in pairs, imagine that you meet each other at:

8 A.M.

10 A.M.

12 P.M.

3 P.M.

11 A.M.

9 A.M.

1 P.M.

4 P.M.

5 P.M.

1-26. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, read the following short dialogs out loud and give English equivalents.

Learn the following pronouns:

я – I

ты – you

(informal)

он/она́/оно́ – he/she/it

мы – we

– Это Пе́тя?

– Да, э́то он.

– Кто он?

– Он студе́нт.

– Это Том?

– Да, э́то он.

– Он студе́нт?

– Нет, он не студе́нт.

– Это Та́ня?

– Да, э́то она́.

– Кто она́?

– Она́ студе́нтка.

– Кто э́то?

– Это Ка́тя.

– Она́ студе́нтка?

– Нет, она́ не студе́нтка.

Но́вые cлова́

студе́нт [stuḑént] – student (male)

студе́нтка [stuḑéntkə] – student (female)

– Это ты?

– Да, э́то я.

– Кто ты?

– Я То́ня.

Я студе́нтка.

– Кто э́то?

– Это мы!

1-27. In pairs, ask and answer the questions following the example below.

Example:

1. Пе́тя студе́нт. (Да)

– Пе́тя студе́нт?

– Да, Пе́тя студе́нт. Он студе́нт.

Пе́тя студе́нт. (Нет)

– Пе́тя студе́нт?

– Нет, он не студе́нт.

2. Ка́тя студе́нтка. (Да)

3. Анна студе́нтка. (Нет)

4. Том студе́нт. (Нет)

5. Ко́стя студе́нт. (Да)

6. То́ня студе́нтка. (Нет)

7. Яна студе́нтка. (Да)

Comment 1-7

Grammatical gender

Russian nouns are classified according to grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, and neuter.

Masculine nouns end in а consonant, -Ь or -Й:

Feminine nouns end in -А оr -Я:

A small group of feminine nouns also ends in -Ь. We will indicate this by (f.) after the nouns in vocabulary lists:

Nouns that end in -А/-Я (ех. па́па, Пе́тя) and refer to male persons are masculine.

Neuter nouns end in -О or -Е:

1-28. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) Read and write down the gender of the following nouns. See Comment 1-7 and 1-8.

Comment 1-8

Pronounce unstressed e in syllables before the stress like the ‘ee’ [ɩ] in English tree, see:

1-29. Read each word out loud and cross out the word in each group that doesn’t belong according to gender.

Comment 1-9

Use он when referring to male persons or to masculine nouns.

Use она́ when referring to female persons or to feminine nouns.

Use оно́ when referring to neuter nouns.

1-30. In pairs, read the questions out loud and answer them following the example below. See Comment 1-9.

Example:

1-31. Tonya’s Instagram. Read and give the English equivalents.

Instagram

Это я.

До́брый день. Я То́ня.

Кто я? Я студе́нтка.

Это моя́ семья́.

Это мой па́па. Это моя́ ма́ма.

Это моя́ сестра́ Та́ня.

Она́ студе́нтка.

Это мой брат Пе́тя. Он студе́нт.

Это мой кот Том.

Это моя́ соба́ка Бу́ся.

Кто э́то? Это секре́т!

Но́вые cлова́

мой (па́па, брат, кот) – my (masc. agreement)

моя́ (ма́ма, сестра́, соба́ка) – my (fem. agreement)

1-32. Russian bingo. Listen to the speaker and cross out the words you hear. When you’ve crossed out all the words in one line, say BINGO — you’ve won!

1-33. Match the printed words with their handwritten counterparts. Copy the handwritten words.

1-34. Crossword puzzle.

Across

1. cat

3. family

4. pen

5. brother

7. hour

9. blackboard

10. window

11. sea

Down

1. room

2. dad

3. dog

6. bank

8. sister

9. house

1-35. Unscramble the following words.

1. траб

2. расест

3. еньд

4. роут

5. мьясе

6. кабасо

1-36. Write the dictation.

1. ест _____

2. м _________ се _________

3. б _________

4. ок _________

5. _________

6. сек _____

7. м __________

8. соб _____

9. До _________ день!

10. До́брое _________!

11. Та _________ студ _________

12. Пе́тя сту _________

1-37. Go over the vocabulary list in 1-38 and select the words that refer to family, city, and classroom. Memorize the words that can be used to describe a family.

Family:

 

City:

Classroom:

Complete the following exercises on the course website.

Chapter 1: 1-10, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14.

1-38. Слова́рь | Vocabulary

апте́ка [ʌpţékə] – drugstore

банк [bank] – bank

брат [brat] – brother

да [da] – yes

день [ḑeņ] – day

до́брый, -ое [dóbr j, -əjə] – good

дом [dom] – house

доска́ [dʌská] – blackboard

кот [kot] – cat (male)

ко́мната [kо́mnətə] – room

кто? [kto] – who

ма́ма [mámə] – mom

май [maj] – May

мой/моя́ [moj/mʌjá] – my

мо́ре [móŗə] – sea

мы [m ] – we

мяч [m̧ač] – ball

нет [ņet] – no

не [ņe] – not

окно́ [ʌknó] – window

он [on] – he

она́ [ʌná] – she

оно́ [ʌnó] – it

па́па (m.) [pápə] – dad

по́чта [póčtə] – post office

пока́ [pʌká] – bye, so long, later (informal, for friends)

ру́чка [rúčkə] – pen

секре́т [şɩkŗét] – secret

семья́ [şɩm̧já] – family

сестра́ [şɩstrá] – sister

соба́ка [sʌbákə] – dog

студе́нт [stuḑént] – student (male)

студе́нтка [stuḑéntkə] – student (female)

там [tam] – there

ты [t ] – you

уро́к [urók] – lesson

у́тро [útrə] – morning

час [čas] – hour

что? [što] – what?

э́то [étə] – this is, that is, it is, these are, those are

я [ja] – I

Expressions:

До́брое у́тро! [dóbrəjə útrə] – Good morning!

До́брый день! [dóbr j ḑeņ] – Good afternoon!

Пока́ [pʌká] – Bye, so long, later (informal, for friends)

ГЛАВА 2

РУССКИЙ АЛФАВИТ: ЧАСТЬ 2

Chapter 2. The Russian Alphabet: Part 2

2-1. Интервью́. Listen to the interviews and answer the questions.

Interview 1

1. What is the man's name?

a. Mark

b. Tom

c. Sasha

2. What is he?

a businessman

b. a journalist

c. a student

3. Where does he work?

a. sports club

b. restaurant

c. museum

Interview 2

1. What is the woman's name?

a. Tanya

b. Nina

c. Olga

2. What is her nationality?

a. Russian

b. American

c. Czech

3. Does she speak English?

a. Yes

b. No

In this section you will learn:

the consonantsв,з, andц

the vowelsиandё

how to say ‘hello’ and ‘good-bye’

how to ask for someone’s name and introduce yourself

you: informalтыvs. formalвы

more about intonation

Russian names and nicknames

the possessives (мой,твой)

plural endings for masculine and feminine nouns

the conjunctionА

2-2. Listen and repeat after the speaker.

а, о, у, э, and ы indicate that the preceding consonant is hard.

я, е, ё, и, and ь indicate that the preceding consonant is soft.

Pronounce з and ц with your tongue touching the back of your front teeth.

The consonant ц is always pronounced hard.

Comment 2-1

YOU: Informal ты vs. formal вы

Use ты with children, pets, family members, or classmates your age/under the age of 30. Use вы with two or more persons or with adults unless they suggest that you use the more informal ты. Use Здра́вствуй [zdrástvuj] with someone you address as ты and Здра́вствуйте [zdrástvujţɩ] with someone you address as вы.

2-3. 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, practice the following expressions.

Greetings:

До́брое у́тро! [dóbrəjə útrə]

Good morning! (from 6 A.M. to 12 P.M.)

До́брый день! [dóbr j ḑeņ]

Good afternoon! (from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M.)

До́брый ве́чер! [dóbr j v̧ečɩr]

Good evening! (from 6 P.M. to 12 A.M.)

2-4. Taking leave. Look at the picture below and explain in English what is wrong with this situation. How should a student say good-bye to a teacher in Russian?

2-5. In pairs, write down and then practice what you would say to greet and take leave if you meet:

1. your friend at 8 A.M.

2. your professor at 10 A.M.

3. your friend’s parents at 6 P.M.

4. your boss at 12 P.M.

5. your colleague at 9 P.M.

6. an older person at 3 P.M.

7. your classmate at 11 A.M.

8. a stranger at 9 A.M.

2-6. Как тебя́ зову́т? 1) Listen and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, practice the following expressions.

— Как тебя́ зову́т?

[kak ţɩb̧á zʌvút]

What’s your name?

— Очень прия́тно!

[óčɩņ pŗɩjátnə]

Nice to meet you!

— Меня́ зову́т Мари́на.

[m̧ɩņá zʌvút mʌŗínə]

My name is Marina.

— Очень прия́тно!

Nice to meet you!

Use Как вас зову́т? [kak vaz͜zʌvút] with two or more persons, with adults, or in formal situations.

Comment 2-2

Intonation

А тебя́? [a ţɩb̧á] and А вас? [a vas] are the incomplete forms of А как тебя́ зову́т? and А как вас зову́т? And what’s your name?

In incomplete questions, the stressed syllable of the most important word is pronounced at a lower pitch and then your voice gradually rises.

2-7. Conversations. Listen to the conversations. Read them out loud and give the English equivalents. See Comments 2-2. Answer the following questions:

Но́вые cлова́

аспира́нт [ʌsp̧ɩránt] – graduate student (male)

аспира́нтка [ʌsp̧ɩrántkə] – graduate student (female)

1) Who is talking in the first conversation?

2) Who is talking in the second conversation?

3) Which conversation is more formal?

Conversation 1

— Здра́вствуй!

— Приве́т!

— Как тебя́ зову́т?

— Меня́ зову́т Ни́на. А тебя́?

— Меня́ зову́т Мари́на.

— Очень прия́тно!

— Ты студе́нтка?

— Нет, я аспира́нтка.

— До свида́ния!

— Пока́!

Conversation 2

— Здра́вствуйте! Как вас зову́т?

— Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т Никола́й.

— Очень прия́тно.

— А вас?

— Меня́ зову́т То́ня Петро́ва.

— Очень прия́тно. Вы аспира́нтка?

— Нет, я студе́нтка.

— До свида́ния!

— До свида́ния!

2-8. In pairs or small groups, reread the conversations in 2-7. Then introduce yourself to your classmates using one of the conversations as a model.

2-9. Nicknames. Read the common Russian names in the left column and try to guess the corresponding nicknames in the right column.

Comment 2-3

-Ы is a plural ending for masculine and feminine nouns:

Comment 2-4

А and, but

Use A to begin questions when a mild contrast is implied:

• Use А ты? А вы? as a follow-up to answering the questions Кто ты? Кто вы?

• Use А тебя́? А вас? as a follow-up to answering the questions Как тебя́ зову́т? Как вас зову́т?

2-10. 1) Listen, read and repeat after the speaker. 2) In pairs, reread the conversations below and answer the questions for each conversation. See Comments 2-3 and 2-4.

Но́вые cлова́

америка́нец [ʌm̧ɩŗɩkáņɩts] – American (male)

америка́нка [ʌm̧ɩŗɩkánkə] – American (female)

врач [vrač] – physician, doctor

и – and

экономи́ст [ɩkənʌm̧íst] – economist

ру́сский [rúsķɩj] – Russian (male)

ру́сская [rúskəjə] – Russian (female)

Learn the following pronouns:

Comment 2-5

Possessive Pronouns

[Michael G · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent course with the real book, but links don't work here
very experienced teachers