Speaking and learning Russian in different international contexts

Abstract

The recent global spread of the Russian language is not solely due to ideological, but also to economic and practical reasons. As a lingua franca, it can be found in different regions of the world. Teaching Russian under new contexts demands alternative strategies and new thinking. Russian is still widespread in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and is the first language for some of its citizens. Russia remains attractive for migrants, and many travel to Russia annually as labour migrants. Although the quality of Russian-language teaching in these countries has deteriorated, as some observers remark, the language is still used in the public sphere, in particular in the mass media, on the streets and in advertising. Multilingualism is a way of life for the vast majority of the population in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This article looks at the current state of the eternal problem of tension in the East-South contiguity in some Asian countries neighbouring Russia with the focus on the use of Russian as a soft power and as an instrument for building and maintaining relationships.