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FSI-Russian


			
				
					
						
						
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            <h1 class="title"><a id="d5e35"></a>Introduction</h1>
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      <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">
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          <li class="listitem"><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"><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"><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"><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"><p>You will become familiar with the telephone and be able to handle
              many types of different calls.</p></li>
          <li class="listitem"><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"><p>Finally, you will become familiar with Russia (and other NIS
              countries, whenever possible), its geography, history, politics, art and
              literature.</p></li>
        </ol>
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      <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>
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