Get Help from Teacher’s Book

I once mused online about how the teacher’s books for my “Soroka” course could help us teach Russian to students. And I was impressed with a comment someone made to my musings.

One mom wrote: “I am a parent. I am not a teacher.”

In the Teacher’s Books, I write in detail about what and how to teach, and the order we follow.

If you go to my website and click on “Look Inside” of the “Teacher’s Book” for “Soroka 1” and start reading, everything is clear with warmups and endings of the lesson, but then you start having questions. For example, you read the following:

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Soroka. Russian language for children

Toys Help to Learn Russian

One of the ways in which my Soroka course helps you to teach Russian as a foreign language to children is through its use of the Oral Approach. The order of work that is followed is: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

In your letters you often write that it is very difficult for your students to repeat the same thing several times.

I understand them since I myself do not like doing it; therefore, we need to come up with something to make it exciting for them.

For example, I like to use toy people and animals as helpers and talk to them as if they are real and we’re having a conversation:

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Soroka. Russian language for children

Oral Approach for Soroka Course

I’m sure you’ll agree that a picture is worth a thousand words.

In the “Soroka” course, directions are extremely useful.

Let’s use the recipe for your favorite soup as an example. If you don’t follow the directions, it will turn out different. It might be not very tasty — or, on the other hand, it could be absolutely delicious.

Another example would be traffic laws. If you don’t follow them, you’ll very likely have a hard time driving from point A to point B.

Or instructions for operating, say, the latest smartphone that comes with previously unimaginable features.

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Soroka. Russian language for children

SorokaDigital YouTube Channel

A couple of years ago, I created a YouTube channel to provide extra guidance in teaching the Soroka lessons. My goal with this channel is to help teachers and parents have a better understanding of the Soroka books, so that teaching your kids can become part of your routine. On my channel I address the different techniques that can be used, and why they are important in the learning process. My videos cover techniques such as drilling and the oral approach; as well as my response to letters and questions that I have received. All videos are in Russian and English subtitles are available. Turn them on if they are not turned on automatically.

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Soroka. Russian language for children

Parent's Manual. Unit 1 Lesson 2

LANGUAGE FOCUS:

“Алфавит (строчные буквы).” (Alphabet, lowercase letters)

Words, Phrases, and Translation:

Входите, пожалуйста! – Come in, please!

Молодец! – Well done!

Все вместе! – All together!

Кто это? – Who is that?

Это Ваня. – This is Vanya.

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Soroka. Russian language for children

Manual for Parents – Part 3

In the manual, you are going to find lesson planning. Partially it is going to be the same as it is in the Soroka 1 manual for teachers. For this manual, I did not include the exercises/activities that can be completed in a group setting.  Furthermore, I would like to note that the difference will be that the manual, which you are reading now, is geared toward individual/one-on-one lessons with children regardless of whether the parents or teachers conduct the lessons.  However, I am going to focus my attention on parents, for they have less experience and need to be guided/assisted more.

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Soroka. Russian language for children