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54. The text is about American students who want to study in Russia. Which of the following do you think are good suggestions or bad suggestions for such people in Russia? Put a tick (٧) for the good ones.

If you go to study in Russia, ….

1)… should be punctual and come to the lectures in time otherwise you will be punished.

2)… if you don’t understand anything you should ask your embassy. Never ask Russians.

3)… you should try to avoid eating in Russian canteens.

4)… you should be careful with public restrooms. Take tissues with you.

5)… never use the metro as your money and passport could be stolen easily.

6)… make Xeroxes of your documents and always take them with you.

7)… as a foreigner you can use ‘ti’ when speaking to people.

Then read the text and check your suggestions. What suggestions would you give to someone who goes to study in Russia?

DO's

Basics:

•Bring US dollars, but only in new or relatively new bills or they won't be accepted for exchange. It is better to have bills in denominations of more than $20.You can change them in most banks, just look for the sign outside the building and watch the rates against the ruble. It is a good idea to bring an ATM/Debit card to withdraw extra amounts of cash, just be cautious of the ATM you use.

•Respect the metro. The incredible subway system in Moscow can truly be an inexpensive and convenient blessing. However, the metro can also be the set of a pickpocket of fight. Do not flash money in the metro. Keep your metro pass separate. Don't speak loudly or make a fool of yourself on the metro. It is considered rude, and it will just make Russians think less of Americans.

•Watch out for your documents. Some will say always carry your passport and visa. Others will disagree. Speak to your host institution on the subject. But regardless, try to get an official copy of your passport and visa and always show that before showing the original. Be sure you have Xeroxes of your passport - take several. An official "Studenchesky Bilyet" or student card, will often suffice with the local enforcement. When going out, leave your passport and any cards (credit, insurance, ID, etc.) that you won't need in a safe place. If you are robbed while out on the street you will have not lost everything.

•Take some passport/size photos with you - these can be useful for getting a propusk, etc.

•Always have a back up. Try to have a back up plan for everything. Have extra money hidden on you and in your room for emergencies; bribes are a reality. Have a back up of local and international cards. That way you can always make a phone call. If you are at a bar late, save a little cash. In case you miss the last subway (it works till 1am), you will need to take a taxi. Always have important telephone numbers with you. You never know when you will have an emergency.

•America uses 110, Russia 220+. If you plan on packing electronic components, bring the necessary adaptor as most homes have no need of them. Hair dryers need at least 1600 wattage converters.

•In the right situation do not be shy. In class, in the dorm, and in other safe social situations do not be afraid of making mistakes while trying out your Russian tongue. Most Russians are just happy that you are trying and will help as much as possible. Try to make Russian friends at school, through your family, and during inter-program excursions. Part of being here is learning how Russians behave between themselves. The more you talk with native speakers, the more you will force yourself to learn. You will learn a lot just by listening to the way they speak, in addition to how they speak. Be open to meeting all the Russians you can. Most Russians are truly warm and hospitable despite their normal cold and pessimistic attitudes on the street.

•When in doubt, ask. Very often Americans assume that if something is wrong, someone will let you know. Russians often assume you know what they want. This creates a discrepancy. Ask about house rules when you arrive. If you do not know how to do something, simply ask someone. Additionally, Russians show politeness by being vague and beating around the bush. If you are politely insistent, eventually, they will figure out that you really don't know and will enlighten you.

•Always use "vi" with Russians whom you do not know, even if they are the same age. Wait for the Russians to initiate using "ti" with you.

Behavior (the unwritten codes):

•Boys should be aware that in Russia, men still pay the bill on dates.

•If you are wearing gloves, take them off when you shake hands.

•Shoes: bear in mind that you will be walking a lot. I mean a lot! Make sure that when you buy shoes, they are built for comfort. That is not all; most Russians only wear dark colors of shoes. Men almost always wear black. If you have space, bring your own house shoes. When you visit a typical home, you will be asked to remove your shoes and wear house shoes. So buy shoes that can be easily taken off and on, and have some nice shoes handy.

•Clothes: Pack dressier clothes than you normally would. Russian students get really dressed up for class (expect to see young men in full suits walking around your campus). Russians, especially women, pay attention to their appearance both at the market and at the club. Looking too casual identifies you as a tourist. Bring a long, black coat if you are traveling to Moscow in winter. It will keep you warmer than a hip-length parka, and you will blend in.

•Take tissues and liquid soap with you if you are expecting to use a bathroom somewhere out. Most public restrooms are not equipped with these basic items.

•Bring a gift if visiting someone's apartment; chocolates or flowers (an odd number over 2 flowers and not yellow) are a good suggestion. (Even number of flowers is good at funerals only.)

•Ask Russians to take you shopping. People at the markets raise the prices when they see foreigners.

•Know that most young people have studied English and can help you if you get in a bind.

•Be polite to the people who you see everyday like security guards, etc. A little gift can grant you many privileges.

•Have some tea and sweets on hand. You never know when your Russian friends may pop in unexpectedly. Tea and sweets are a tradition to have for guests.

•Be hospitable: your friends will be offended if you do not invite them to be your guests. Try to see Russians at home and when invited expect to have a several course meal and drinks.

•Date Russians - it's a pleasant cultural experience. Your speaking skills will improve.

55.Read the following part of the article. The sentences below have been taken out of the text. Where do you think they should go?

1.Be open talking about your finances.

2.Just have a religious or health excuse ready.

3.Their customs and traditions can be different from the Russian.

4.There are many scandals with cards and pin numbers being stolen with ATM's at these locations.

5.You can literally lose hundreds of dollars just through commission.

DON'TS

• Do not assume that everybody in Russia is ethnically Russian. There are more than 100 ethnic groups in Russia. When talking to Russians it is appropriate to ask about their "nationality".

•Don't take a lot of your money in Traveler's Checks. It can be a pain to find a place to cash them, and when you do, they will take at least 10% of what it is worth.

•Don't use ATM's in the metro or on the street. Use the ones in the lobbies of hotels that cater to western businessmen where the ATM's are usually guarded and uncorrupted.

•Don't take a taxi alone at night. Avoid a car if it has anyone besides a driver. Know where you are going and sound sure of yourself when negotiating a price with the driver.

•Don't be afraid to decline vodka. You won't offend anyone. If you do drink with Russians, know that the bottle is usually drunk until it is empty.

•Don't be afraid to try new food, customs, words or ask for help.

•Don't expect people to smile at you. It is not customary in Russia, especially in big cities, to talk or smile at strangers, so don't interpret this behavior as coldness or unfriendliness.

•Don't expect everyone you meet with to be on time. Russians have different idea of timing and it is clear that in general time is a much cherished value among Americans.

•Don't walk around alone at night.

•Don't expect to eat different food in the cafeteria.

•Don't stay in the dorm a lot. Your time in Russia will fly a lot faster than you think.

•Don't expect American standards in public places like restrooms.

•Do not put your feet on the tables. This will support Russian stereotypes about Americans being "uncultural".

•Do not wear caps in the class rooms. This is unaccepted behavior at schools and any professor or teacher will be offended.

•Do not eat in classrooms - that is an accepted behavior.

•Do not expect to pay a visit to a friend "for a half an hour". If you are invited to someone's house and sit down to lunch or dinner this is a lengthy process.

•Do not hesitate to open your soul to Russians. You will be considered a real friend. Russians don't have a developed bank system yet. They don't know about Americans living on loans. They will find you to be very rich when they learn that your parents own a house, several cars and you are a student of a university. This will be very educational for them.

•Don't be scared by anybody's warning! Just realize that this is not the US! You are studying abroad and have therefore already elevated yourself to the minority of students. Take full advantage of the situation and learn by having fun.

Moscow has numerous coffee shops, concert halls, dance halls, theaters and other forms of entertainment. If you are willing to look, you will always find something interesting to do. You can always ask someone in your host family or one of your new Russian friends to lead the way!

http://www.waytorussia.net/TalkLounge/conversation11704.html

56.Look back at the suggestions you have made in Ex. 54. Have you changed your mind about any of them?

57.Read the text in Ex. 54 – 55 again more carefully. Check any new words in your dictionary. Are the following statements true or false? Correct the false ones.

1.Russians show politeness by being vague and talking about something for a long time without coming to the main point.

2.Americans are not used to walking a lot, so cozy and comfortable shoes can make a difference.

3.Russian girls can hardly carry the trash out without being dressed up.

4.In the market Americans are expected to pay twice as much as Russians.

5.Never bring presents to the receptionists, it’s impolite.

6.As foreigners American students don’t have to be hospital in Russia.

7.Americans should never wear black shoes in Russia: it’s bad luck!

8.If an American student is invited to someone’s house, he is not expected to stay there for a long time.

9.Americans shouldn’t speak from the heart to Russians.

10.American students are not expected to pay the bills on dates in Russia, even if they are men.

58.A scientific adviser is talking to an exchange postgraduate student who is going to Russia. Complete the following questions and answers.

- Let me ask you a question. As you went to Moscow twice last year you must know everything about its transport. I’m not going to rent a car, how can I get to the place I need?

- Well, if you are in Moscow the cheapest and the most convenient transport is … - However, I’ve heard that it can be dangerous because of …

- Of course it can, but if you avoid … it’s much safer than … or … because there are always a lot of people and you can always call … in case of emergency – the button is in every …

- How … is the ticket?

- You’d better buy a metro pass – at least 30 trips – and always keep it … - Is it … to buy a ticket in the train?

- No, I’m afraid not. Do it in advance in … - I hope the trains … on time.

- Yes, they are. Every four minutes. But it works till 1 am.

- I see. If I’m at a bar or a … late, I’ll take a taxi. Oh, I’ve heard about gypsy cabs or gazelles as they call them! - I can’t remember, what do you …?

- Minibuses, something like small route buses. - Ah, I take your point. I tried it once.

- And it was really frightening, wasn’t it?

- Well, yes, it was like something out of a horror movie. The driver was so thin and bent; he had long, straggly dark … and dirty old torn … . The smell was … But the worst thing was the ... . Goodness knows what he had done to himself and to his car, but I felt like on a roller coaster. I could hardly stand up straight when I went out.

- What are some of the good things about …? - Um, well, you don’t have to walk at least. - … - …

- Goodbye. Good luck with the trip! - Thanks, I’ll need it.

- Just keep calm! Phone me when you can.

- I will. As soon as I come out of … in Domodedovo, I’ll … a ring.

59.Make similar dialogues about other things that American students should and shouldn’t do in Russia. Roleplay it as an American and Russian student.

Self-Assessment

Module 7

1.Look through Module 7 to find the answers to the questions 1 – 20.

1.What is the area of Russia?

2.What is “the lungs of Europe”?

3.What are the largest European lakes in Russia?

4.What mountain chains are there on the territory of our country?

5.What mineral resources is Russia rich in?

6.What countries does the Russian Federation border on in the west (in the east)?

7.What branches does the federal government comprise?

8.When was the Constitution adopted by national referendum?

9.List as many facts as you can about the president of Russia.

10.What leading political parties are there in Russia?

11.Is unemployment in Russia an insurmountable problem? Why?

12.What makes it possible for Russia to gradually reduce its foreign debt?

13.What industries does Russia compete with India and China in?

14.Why was the new land code passed by the Duma?

15.How many embassies are there in the Russian Federation? Where are they?

16.What international organisations is Russia a member of?

17.What is the structure of the Russian military forces?

18.List as many facts as you can about Omsk Metro.

19.What are the most popular Russian towns for foreign tourists to visit? Why?

20.What suggestions would you give to someone who goes to study in Russia?

Bibliography

1.Adrianova Irina, Toumanova Natalia. Learn and celebrate. – Новосибирск: «Инфолио-пресс», 1992. – 159c.

2.Dale, D. The little book of Australia. - Allen & Unwin, Australia. – 2010. – 261 p.

3.Hornby, A. S. Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary / A.S. Hornby - Oxford University Press, 2000. – 1540 p.

4.http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Economy_of_the_United_Kingdom&action=history

5.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

6.http://eng.1september.ru

7.http://news.bbc.co.uk

8.http://www.bbclearningenglish.com

9.http://www.magazine-deutschland.de

10.http://www.onestopenglish.com

11.Jon Nauton. Profile 1. Student’s Book. Intermediate. – Oxford: Oxford university Press, 2005. – 143c.

12.Jon Nauton. Profile 2. Student’s Book. Intermediate. – Oxford: Oxford university Press, 2005. – 175c.

13.Neil Wood. Business and Commerce Workshop. – Oxford: Oxford university Press, 2005. – 40c.

14.Powell, Martinez, Jillett. New Business Matters. Coursebook. – Thomson HEINLE. – 2004. – 2000c.

15.Sue Kay, Vaughan Jones, Philip Kerr. Inside Out. Student’s Book. Pre-intermediate. – Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2006. – 143c.

16.Virginia Evans, Genny Dooley. Enterprise 3. Course Book. Pre-intermediate. – Berkshire: Express Publishing, 2002. – 142c.

17.Кузовлев, В.П. English. 10-11 классы. Activity Book – M.: Просвещение, 2006. – 112 с.

Contents

The Russian Federation …………………………………………………...3 Being in Russia ……………………………………………………..........25 Self-Assessment Module 7……………………………………………….38 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………..40

Учебное издание

Татьяна Геннадьевна Галкина,

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Маргарита Викторовна Цыгулева

ME AND MY WORLD: RUSSIA

Учебно-методическое пособие

Модуль 7

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