How to work with this resource
Page highlights
Here, you will find:
General information
We’ve designed our resource to make finding information efficient for all users.
- Each part begins with an introduction providing a concise overview of the chapter contents.
- Within the chapters, text is segmented into shorter sections and paragraphs, each presented as quick links within the page highlights for easy navigation.
- The texts in our resources are written in a conversational but still formal style to enhance readability and comprehension.
- The most pertinent aspects are highlighted in bold to make it easier to quickly search the information.
- We’ve made sure everything is available in two languages: the main text is in English, and you can click on an interactive link to see the Russian translation. This setup not only helps you understand better but also gives you a chance to practice translating, as we’ve highlighted the same key points in both languages.
- Whenever feasible, all practice materials are presented in both languages making the contents accessible to anyone regardless of the language proficiency.
- Additionally, all external links open in new tabs to prevent users from losing their place within the original page, maintaining a seamless browsing experience.
Suggestions for users with no Russian language knowledge and with novice Russian language proficiency
The textual information in our resource is presented in English, allowing you to learn about the cultural nuances between the two cultures without any knowledge of Russian. In the practice part, we have included tasks that focus on the cultural understanding so you can watch videos about Russian culture and respond to quiz questions in English.
Limited or no knowledge of Russian shouldn’t prevent you from gaining more information about the Russian language and culture through our practice tasks that are in Russian. For instance, we have added translations to all Russian scripts for video and audio practice tasks, so even those with limited or no knowledge of Russian can benefit from these Russian-language resources.
While most tasks are best suited for those with intermediate and advanced Russian language proficiency, there are also tasks useful for novice learners. Be sure to check out the practice section for tasks involving phone numbers, dates, and birthday wishes.
Suggestions for users with intermediate and advanced language proficiency
The Practice and Interactive materials section of our resource provides practice targeting various needs. You will find tasks that help you gain and test your cultural and language knowledge if you plan on working in a Russian-speaking country (e.g., traditions and norms, preparing a toast, wishing someone a happy birthday, etc.). You will also find tasks that help you practice language for specific needs (e.g., passport-related vocabulary, discussing domestic violence, explaining the benefits of volunteering, etc.) with a focus on those working with Russian-speaking immigrants in the United States.
We also recommend that you use the entire resource to practice language beyond what we offer in our section with interactive tasks. Each text in our resource has translations into Russian with the same keywords highlighted. The video transcripts also have translations in both languages, providing an excellent exercise for creating a phrasebook with important expressions on these topics. Additionally, several tasks help you practice translation from Russian into English.
If you started using this resource to enhance your knowledge and proficiency for working with Russian-speaking immigrants in the United States, you can use various topics from this resource as conversation starters with them.
If you come up with other ways to use this resource beyond what we envisioned, please share them with us by contacting us directly or by submitting feedback.
Suggestions for Russian-speaking people
Our resource’s target audience are Americans who want to improve their Russian language proficiency and better understand the aspects of the Russian culture that are different from the American culture and customs. But we think that Russian-speaking individuals can also greatly benefit from our online resource: by exploring this resource, Russian speakers can better understand the cultural and mindset differences between Russians and Americans. Understanding these differences can reduce culture shock and help people from different cultures to communicate more smoothly and effectively with each other.
The texts are primarily in English but are also translated into Russian, ensuring accessibility and comprehension for all users. There are also several video collections that explain U.S. realia in Russian – these collections can be shared with the Russian-speaking immigrants directly making it easier for them to receive pertinent information that will help them deal with or prepare for challenges of the acculturation.
Interactive Elements: Using H5P in Our Resource
You should be able to access all printed information in this online resource without any problems. However, our resource also includes many interactive elements: expanded information, videos, image galleries, quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, and more. All interactive elements in this resource are created using H5P technology.
H5P (HTML5 Package) is a tool for creating interactive and engaging content on websites. It allows you to easily integrate multimedia elements such as videos, quizzes, presentations, and more into web pages. Accessing all these elements in our resource should be straightforward; simply follow the instructions provided for tasks. Most of our interactive features are very simple and self-explanatory, such as browsing through video galleries or responding to multiple-choice questions. However, some interactive tasks may be more technically challenging and might not function uniformly across all browsers.
If you encounter issues, such as content not displaying correctly, we recommend troubleshooting by trying different web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari***, and ensuring they are updated to the latest versions. Switching to another browser or updating your current browser often resolves most compatibility issues when interacting with H5P content.
***the interactive elements might not work in Safari browser
You can also notify us of any issues by contacting us directly or by submitting feedback.
