Golosa is a two-volume, introductory Russian-language program that strikes a balance between communication and structure. It takes a contemporary approach to language learning by focusing on the development of competence in the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), as well as the expansion of cultural knowledge. Golosa is designed to help students reach the ACTFL Intermediate Range in speaking and Intermediate High in reading and listening. Each section in the text revolves around a particular topic and follows the same format: introduction of basic vocabulary, listening to introductory conversations, short dialogues with exercises and role play practice, practice in strategies for listening and reading, grammar study with practice in both oral and written form, and written workbook exercises. With its robust audio and video program on the World Wide Web, Golosa provides comprehensive explanations of Russian grammar along with the practice students need to build accuracy.
NEW-- Revised grammar explanations and tables, as well as some new grammar sections.
NEW--Updated readings based on authentic Russian materials (advertisements, documents, official announcements, etc.),
NEW-- E-mail correspondence between a Russian studying abroad in America and her teacher and friend at home.
REVISED--Listening exercises have also been updated to reflect changes in today’s Russia.
NEW--The chapter ending sythesis review activities have been moved to the Student Activities Manual to allow for new readings in the text.
Focused attention to skills development
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Each language skill (speaking, reading, writing, listening) is addressed in its own right. Abundant activities are provided to promote the development of competence and confidence in each skill area.
Modularity
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Golosa incorporates the best aspects of a variety of methods, as appropriate to the material. All skills are presented on an equal footing, but instructors may choose to focus on those which best serve their students’ needs without violating the structural integrity of individual units or the program as a whole.
Authenticity and cultural relevance
Spiraling approach
Learner-centered approach
Comprehensive coverage of beginning grammar
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Communicative goals do not displace conceptual control of the main points of Russian grammar. By the end of Book 1, students have had meaningful contextual exposure to all the cases in both singular and plural, as well as tense/aspects. Book 2 spirals out the basic grammar and fills in those items needed for basic communication and for reading texts for the general reader, such as simple prose and press articles.
Abundance and variety of exercises
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The varied activities in the textbook and S.A.M. and on the Companion Website provide students with many opportunities to practice linguistic competence in all four skills, to improve knowledge of grammar, and to learn more about Russian culture.
Learning strategies
Phonetics and intonation
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Pronunciation is fully integrated and practiced with the material in each unit’s audio materials and S.A.M. exercises, rather than covered in isolation. Intonation training includes requests, commands, nouns of address, exclamations, and nonfinal pauses, in addition to declaratives and interrogatives. Dialog and situation practice help students to absorb aspects of Russian phonetics and intonation.