Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian, Book 1

Golosa is part of a two-volume series communicative approach to Introductory Russian that is designed to help learners reach the Intermediate range in speaking and listening plus reading and writing. Each volume of Golosa includes a main textbook, a workbook with audio drills and written exercises, and an audio program that runs approximately ten hours per volume and includes listening comprehension exercises, dialogs, conversations, and rapid-pace oral drills. In addition, a Companion Website offers additional lexical and grammatical exercises from each chapter plus links to authentic Russian websites, and the entire Golosa audio program is available online. Each unit in the program revolves around a theme (university, family, etc.), and follows the same basic format: introduction of basic vocabulary for the chapter theme, listening to introductory conversations, short dialogs with activities and role-play practice, practice in listening and reading with emphasis on strategies, grammar study and practice in both oral and written form, and written workbook exercises that go from mechanical skill-building to creative skill-using. For individuals being introduced to?and learning? the Russian language.

With its careful balance of communication and structure, Golosa has been the pathway to contemporary Russian for English-speaking students throughout the post-Soviet era. Students learning with Golosa work towards functional competence in all four skills while building a solid grammatical base. This foundation enables them to increase their proficiency through additional study.

The Golosa program consists of two texts (Book 1 and Book 2), two student workbooks, a Web-based audio and video program, and additional Web-based exercises. Each book offers realistic communicative activities (in listening, speaking, reading, and writing) that are designed for use in a learner-centered classroom. Students acquire personalized vocabulary to express individual needs and practice strategies that promote the balanced development of productive and receptive skills. The problem-solving approach in Golosa leads students to become independent, confident speakers of Russian.

The third edition of Golosa, Book 1, has been revised to provide a complete grammatical base.The web site also provides a regularly updated set of additional resources for teachers and students that further promotes independent, individualized work with the Russian language and realia. The entire audio program — nearly 20 hours of recordings — is available on the Golosa web site as well as on CD.