Abstract:

It is impossible to learn language without getting immersed into the specificities of culture and people’s way of thinking, so creation of positive image of a country is considered as a necessary condition for efficient study, which favors translation of the country’s culture by forming a conceptosphere of Russian values and analysis of already-existing lingvocultural stereotypes (D.S. Likhachev, Y.S. Kubryakova). This aspect is especially relevant at advanced stages of mastering a language.

On the basis of materials given in study manual entitled “A Window to Russia” by L.Yu. Skorokhodova and L.V. Khorokhordina (levels В 2 – С 1), we are considering the axiological component of educational materials which implement the conceptoshere of Russian values. This conceptosphere intends for some totality of concepts concerning various spheres of living of the society: economy, politics, culture, education, etc.

In our opinion, axiological component of the study manual lies in selection of topics, study texts, orientation of pre-reading and post-reading tasks. In the process of studying, it is inacceptable to present an idealized image of the country irrespective of realities of everyday life. Meanwhile, a conscious selection of negative or stereotypical facts will not reflect the depth and multi-aspect nature of the target language country.

For example, in the mentioned study manual which is used for teaching Chinese students (level В 2 – С 1), topic 1 is dedicated to the issues of economic development of Russia and entitled “Who is happy in Russia? (Russian family in the new economic situation)”. Authors through dialogues and texts identify real economic problems: social differentiation of the Russian society, unemployment, poverty, the absence of formed and strong medium class, etc., which lead to personal problems of a citizen. Within this topic for Chinese students we determine positive facts of social life (the existence of pensions, mandatory medical insurance, social benefits and reliefs, compulsory education for all citizens of the Russian Federation), which have remained intact for many years despite economic problems in the country. For example, the assignment “Compile a layout reflecting achievements and problems of contemporary Russia” we complement with the task “Mark positive phenomena in economic and social life of Russia”; the assignment gets completed on the basis of supplementary texts, video and audio materials. The topic of economic development allows demonstrating such valuables of the new Russia as civil rights, relations between a citizen and the state, the role of family and tight family relationships in the life of an individual and the society in general.
Analysis of study manuals, the descriptive and comparative methods, the methods of case study allowed determining a list of key topics for advanced level of study, characterized by the following:
1) they allow to see the country from various points of view;
2) they assume the problem-based learning and a component for discussion;
3) they note positive features of the image of Russia by revealing key valuables of the Russian society;
4) they take into account mental and cultural features of Chinese students.

The article provides a fragment for text analysis targeted at advanced learning of the language (В 2 – С 1) and taking into account the tendency to form a positive image of the country which contains a value component.

Keywords:

Russian as a foreign language, Chinese speakers, concept, Russian values.