The article focuses on a crucial issue, namely it aims to analyse the scientific and pedagogical activity of M.T. Baranov (1924–1999), an outstanding Russian scientist, teacher, methodologist-Russianist, who popularised the science of language and created the methodological school of thought "Linguistic worldview formation". From a modern linguodidactic perspective, the study presents his scientific heritage analysis and considers the most significant works on Russian language teaching. Moreover, the paper outlines the main methodological ideas of M.T. Baranov and highlights the content of some of the scientist’s significant writings, including the study guide "A Methodology of Vocabulary and Phraseology in Russian Language Lessons", which has great scientific methodological potential. Professor M.T. Baranov’s contribution to the methodological science development was deeply appreciated by his followers, like-minded scientists, and contemporaries. In modern conditions, methodological writings by M.T. Baranov enable us to continue the search for creative solutions in the field of Russian language teaching as well as other issues of school and university pedagogical education. Research methods included analysis, synthesis, scientific generalisation. As a result, the paper has analysed the scientific legacy of the scholar and objectively evaluated his works from a modern standpoint. The valuable experience of M.T. Baranov should be considered in the process of training language and literature teachers in modern Russia.