THE USE OF MEDIA TEXTS IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Abstract

At present, we observe active development of new methods and strategies of teaching foreign languages, in which mass media materials play an important role because they provide authentic resources that offer natural language environment and enrich the curriculum and syllabus. These resources can be easily adapted to suit different levels of language proficiency, interests and needs of the students. The study attempts to substantiate the necessity and importance of using various types of authentic media materials in the classroom and analyzes the challenges teachers may face in the process of teaching. The aim of the study is to address both the theoretical background and the practical issues of application of media texts at the lessons of Russian as a foreign language. They enhance not only language but and socio-cultural proficiency of the students and their understanding of linguistic phenomena such as various stylistic figures of speech, phraseological units, linguistic means of manipulation, etc. Mass media resources can be used to develop media literacy, critical thinking and analytical skills. This study is based on the use of general scientific methods such as analysis, description and interpretation. The authors fall back on scholarly literature and their personal experience of teaching Russian. The article suggests using practical media-based approaches to develop language skills and psychological properties, such as memory, prediction skills, and speed of response to linguistic stimuli in undergraduate university students of Russian as a second language. The opportunities and methods regarded in the study can be used in any other classroom of Russian as a second language.