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- <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:epub="http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops" xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:pls="http://www.w3.org/2005/01/pronunciation-lexicon" xmlns:ssml="http://www.w3.org/2001/10/synthesis" xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><head><title>Introduction</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="docbook-epub.css"/><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.79.2"/><link rel="prev" href="pr01.xhtml" title="Preface"/><link rel="next" href="pr03.xhtml" title="Fast tapes"/></head><body><header/><section class="preface" title="Introduction" epub:type="preface" id="d0e57"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title">Introduction</h1></div></div></div><p><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">ДОБРО́ ПОЖА́ЛОВАТЬ В РУ́ССКИЙ ОТДЕ́Л</em></span>!</p><p>WELCOME TO THE RUSSIAN F.A.S.T. COURSE!</p><p>Welcome to the Russian F.A.S.T. Course! We're glad you're going to be with us for the next
- 8 weeks, and we'd like to do everything we can to make this time both enjoyable and profitable
- for you. You may be wondering just what we have in store for you, and what you may expect to
- accomplish in the time you have. So, without further ado...</p><p>F.A.S.T. COURSE OBJECTIVES</p><p>The F.A.S.T (Familiarization And Short Term) course is designed to prepare students for
- life in Russia (and the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union) by giving them
- the necessary basic skills in the language. We want you to leave here with the ability to
- face, without hesitation, any number of situations you will encounter in day-to-day life in
- those cities where you will live, work and visit. Some of the skills we will help you to
- acquire include the following:</p><div class="orderedlist" epub:type="list"><ol class="orderedlist" type="1"><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>The ability to ask simple questions pertaining to your daily practical needs. You will
- need to know HOW to get something done, HOW to elicit necessary information.</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>The ability to understand key words in the answers to your questions. You will learn
- to use those key words in your own speech.</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>The ability to work with numbers (as used in prices, phone numbers, addresses, etc.),
- especially the larger numbers which are in use today: 1,000 and above. Most importantly,
- you will learn to recognize and understand these numbers when you encounter them, either
- in written or in spoken form. You will also be able to produce simple number combinations
- of your own (your address, your telephone number, etc.)</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>The ability to read and understand street signs, signs in the metro and other forms of
- transportation, in stores, hotels, etc. You will be able to read and decipher such things
- as concert/theater programs, menus, instructions for guests in hotels, rules for using
- public transport, hours of operation of various establishments, etc.</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>You will become familiar with the telephone and be able to handle many types of
- different calls.</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>The ability to introduce yourself, and others when necessary; to appropriately greet
- people and to distinguish between different levels of formality and informality in the
- language. You will be able to speak about yourself, your family, your interests and work
- and be able to ask your friends and colleagues the same.</p></li><li class="listitem" epub:type="list-item"><p>Finally, you will become familiar with Russia (and other NIS countries, whenever
- possible), its geography, history, politics, art and literature.</p></li></ol></div><p>The F.A.S.T. course, and this textbook, have been designed to familiarize you with the
- Russian language and Russian culture in their broadest contexts. You should not expect to
- receive a formal presentation of the grammar and structure of the language. You WILL learn
- some grammar, but only that which it is necessary for you to know in order to perform a given
- task. There are simple grammar notes contained in each lesson, but if you are a student who
- wishes to learn more about the theoretical aspect of Russian grammar, you may find the
- purchase of Brian Kemple's Essential Russian Grammar helpful.</p><p>The course will emphasize more the development of good, oral skills and aural
- comprehension and less so the development of an ability to read and write in Russian. However,
- skills such as being able to read signs and to write down names, addresses and/or phone
- numbers will be essential for you to acquire. With the help of the book and your instructors,
- you will accomplish that.</p><p>All that remains to be said is that, while we are here to teach you the basics of Russian,
- you must realize that only you can learn them. No single textbook or instructor will be
- sufficient without a certain effort on your part. You will rarely be asked to do homework
- assignments, but you should plan on doing work outside the classroom. We have audio tapes to
- accompany each lesson, and the Multi-Media Center has some computer-assisted Russian language
- materials. All this together can combine to make your F.A.S.T. Course experience the best one
- possible.</p><p><span xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase"><em xml:lang="ru" class="foreignphrase">УДА́ЧИ ВА́М</em></span>!</p><p>GOOD LUCK!</p></section><footer/></body></html>
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