Animation for Russian Conversation draws on the best known Russian works of animation --Cheburashka, Karlson, the Hedgehog, and Vinni Pukh. Intended for Russian students of the Novice High to Intermediate Mid levels according to ACTFL guidelines, this book offers high interest to anyone learning Russian through authentic, but accessible Russian materials. Exercises cover vocabulary and grammar, with advanced exercises to challenge students further.
Instructors can select assignments based on the level of their group and their course goals. Some grammar exercises might best be used in conjunction with a regular textbook, depending on the level of the class. The table of contents includes a listing of grammar and lexical topics covered in each section. The animations in the text are generally widely available, but must be purchased separately from this book.
Jason Merrill is Associate Professor of Russian at Michigan State University. Since 2009 he has served as the Director of the Middlebury College Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian. He teaches courses on Russian literature, culture, and cinema and has published articles and textbooks, including "Russian Fairy Tales: A Student Reader" and "Russian Animation for Conversation" (Co-authored with Maria Alley and Julia Mikhailova). He currently is the Book Review Editor for Folklorica: The Journal of the Slavic and East European Folklore Association.
Julia Mikhailova (PhD Ohio State) is a Russian language specialist in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Toronto. She has served on the faculty of Emory University in Atlanta, and she teaches Russian in the Intensive Summer Program at Middlebury College. Her research interests include methods of teaching Slavic languages, acquisition of Russian, language assessment tools, Russian humor, Slavic formal syntax, and history of the Russian language.
Maria Alley is the Assistant Director of Language Programs and Lecturer in the Dept. of Slavic and Eastern European Studies, Ohio State University. Courses taught: Russian language and Russian Culture. Awards and qualifications: GTA Teaching Award (2002), OPI certification in Russian. Academic interests: Slavic Linguistics (Aspect, Accentology, Gender Issues), Bilingualism and First Language Loss and Second Language Acquisition.
