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"GRAMMATICAL COMPLEXITY IN TEACHING RUSSIAN AS A FOREIGN
LANGUAGE"
Xunarova Lobar Akbaraliyevna
"Senior Lecturer, Silk Road Innovation University"
+998936012677
Annotation:
Learning Russian as a foreign language presents significant challenges, primarily
due to its unique grammatical features. The Russian language’s grammatical system is complex,
including intricate morphology, a case system, gender and number categories, as well as specific
syntactic structures. For foreign learners, these elements often pose considerable difficulty, as
many of these grammatical categories are either absent or expressed differently in their native
languages. This study analyzes the key aspects of Russian grammatical complexity.
Key words:
Russian as a foreign language, grammatical complexity, cases and declensions,
type and conjugation of verbs, agreement, communicative approach, teaching methods,
challenges in learning Russian.
Introduction
The Russian language holds a special place among Slavic languages due to its rich grammatical
system, which is challenging for foreign students to learn. The grammatical aspects of Russian
require special attention and thorough study at all stages of learning, as grammar forms the
foundation for understanding the structure and meaning of sentences. Let us examine the main
difficulties faced by learners of Russian as a foreign language, as well as approaches to
overcoming them.
The study of Russian as a foreign language presents unique challenges due to its complex
grammatical structure. Russian grammar, with its rich system of cases, verb conjugations,
aspectual distinctions, and syntactical rules, can pose significant hurdles for learners who are
accustomed to less morphologically intricate languages. Understanding and mastering these
aspects is often central to achieving fluency in Russian, yet they also represent key barriers to
effective language acquisition.
This article aims to explore the various facets of grammatical complexity in the context of
teaching Russian to non-native speakers. By analyzing the difficulties learners face and the
strategies employed by instructors, we seek to provide a comprehensive overview of how to
approach the intricacies of Russian grammar in an educational setting. We will examine how
factors such as the student's native language, their linguistic background, and the methods of
teaching employed can influence the learning process.
Furthermore, this article will explore potential approaches to simplifying or scaffolding
grammatical concepts, ensuring that they become more accessible to foreign learners while
retaining the richness of the Russian language. Understanding grammatical complexity is not just
about identifying challenges but also about devising solutions that facilitate learning without
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oversimplifying the language's inherent structure. The goal is to help students overcome the
barriers posed by Russian grammar and to encourage a deeper, more effective engagement with
the language.
1. The system of declensions and cases.
The Russian language has six cases, each serving a
unique function by indicating the role of a word in a sentence. Learners must memorize the case
endings for nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and numerals, which change depending on gender,
number, and word form."
The case system presents difficulties for students whose native language does not have similar
categories, such as speakers of English and Chinese. They often struggle to understand why the
same word changes depending on its position in a sentence and how to choose the correct form.
Teaching Methods:
Sentence Modeling:
Instructors help students construct sentences, highlighting case
forms and explaining their function.
Declension Tables:
The use of visual materials, such as tables, significantly simplifies
the memorization process.
Practical Exercises:
Regular exercises using different cases in sentences help reinforce
knowledge and develop automaticity in selecting the correct form.
2.
Verb
Aspects
and
Tenses.
The Russian verb system is complex due to the presence of perfective and imperfective aspects,
as well as a rich tense system. Foreign students often struggle to understand the difference
between these aspects and how verb aspect affects meaning. For example, the imperfective
aspect is used to describe ongoing actions or repeated events, whereas the perfective aspect
emphasizes the completion of an action.
Teaching Methods:
Explanation Through Examples:
Instructors provide examples of verb pairs (e.g.,
читать – прочитать
,
писать – написать
), illustrating the difference in meaning.
Contextual Learning:
Using various contexts (such as stories or situational descriptions)
helps students see the distinction in practice.
Game-Based Exercises:
Activities that involve transforming verbs into different forms,
such as “Complete the Sentence,” make learning more interactive.
3.
Verb
Conjugation
and
Irregular
Forms.
Verb conjugation in Russian also complicates learning, as there are two main types of
conjugation, numerous exceptions, and irregular verb forms. Learners often make mistakes when
conjugating verbs, especially with irregular forms.
Teaching Methods:
Conjugation Tables and Flashcards:
Tables and flashcards with conjugation examples
help students quickly grasp the correct endings.
Interactive Practice:
Conjugation exercises and quizzes with multiple-choice questions
reinforce learning.
Repetition and Memorization of Exceptions:
Regularly reviewing exceptions helps
students develop strong associations and recall irregular forms more easily.
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4.
Agreement
Challenges.
Agreement in gender, number, and case between different parts of speech is another difficulty, as
it requires attention to grammatical categories that are absent in many other languages. For
example, nouns and adjectives must agree in number, gender, and case, which adds complexity
to forming correct sentences.
Teaching Methods:
Examples Highlighting Agreement:
Emphasizing the agreement between words in
sentences helps students understand structure and rules.
Speaking Practice:
Frequent use of new phrases and expressions in conversation helps
learners become accustomed to agreement.
Gradual Complexity Increase:
Students start with simple constructions and gradually
move on to more complex ones.
5.
Syntax
and
Word
Order.
Although Russian has a flexible word order, the correct arrangement of words in a sentence can
still be challenging to learn. Different syntactic structures and ways of expressing time, condition,
and purpose can cause difficulties.
Teaching Methods:
Contextual Exercises:
Students practice constructing sentences, identifying main and
secondary elements.
Word Rearrangement Tasks:
Exercises involving word order rearrangement help
learners understand the rules and variations of sentence construction.
Practical Learning:
Students read and analyze texts, which helps them master syntax.
6.
Approaches
to
Overcoming
Grammatical
Difficulties.
To effectively overcome grammatical challenges, a systematic approach should be used,
combining theoretical and practical methods:
Communicative Approach:
Focused on mastering grammar through everyday
communication and real-life situations.
Use of Visual Materials:
Tables, diagrams, and flashcards help reinforce the
memorization of complex grammatical forms.
Interactive Exercises and Games:
Educational games, quizzes, and grammar tasks
make learning engaging and memorable.
Conclusion
The grammar of the Russian language is a system rich in categories that are absent in other
languages, making it challenging for foreigners to learn. However, with a well-structured
approach and the use of modern teaching methods, the process of mastering grammatical rules
and structures can be significantly simplified.
References:
1.
Barannikova, N. M.
"Methodology of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language."
Moscow: Russian Language, 2001. – The book describes key principles and teaching methods
for Russian as a foreign language, with a focus on grammar and the communicative approach.
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2.
Shatilov, S. F.
"Theory and Practice of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language." St.
Petersburg: SPbU Publishing, 2010. – This book explores the main difficulties faced by foreign
students and methods for overcoming grammatical challenges.
3.
Marchenko, A. V.
"The Grammatical Structure of the Russian Language: A Textbook."
Moscow: Higher School, 2015. –
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