Russian language teaching in Ruzomberok, Slovakia: culturological approach

Abstract

Teaching Russian at the universities in Slovakia has its own history. For decades, the Russian language has occupied a worthy place in the country’s universities, including Ruzomberok. A new educational reform (since September, 2019) implies freedom of choice when learning foreign languages. Consequently, interest in studying the Russian language in Slovakia is forecasted, which indicates the relevance of our chosen topic. The purpose of the article is to analyze the system of teaching the Russian language at Catholic University in Slovakia from the perspective of a young teacher with little pedagogical experience. The theoretical significance of the article lies in the pointing out the problem of forming and developing interest to the Russian language in Ruzomberok through the culturological approach outlined by the famous Slovak specialist in Russian philology Eva Kollarova. The practical significance of the work consists in using educational disciplines being worked out, their analysis and further adjustment aimed at developing the students’ personality, their individuality through the Russian language. As a result of the study, it was proved that the curriculum based on the culturological approach to teaching a foreign language helps to build trust between the teacher and students. Also, university students are motivated, and in the university environment, they do not only receive facts through language, but are also brought up. We see the prospects of the study in a more detailed study of the impact of teaching the Russian language according to the principle of “language through culture, culture through language.” Due to the growing interest to the Russian language in Slovakia and a free choice in learning a foreign language, the willingness of teachers and students for the dialogue of cultures is becoming very important.