Theme 1: Social Issues

Civic Responsibility and Engagement

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Elicit an exchange and discussion on participation in community activities.
• Maintain a discussion related to topics such as education, travel, and involvement in today's society.
• Discuss topics related to adulthood.
• Debate what makes one a responsible citizen.
• Discuss personal rights and responsibilities of young adults.
• Discuss a citizen's responsibility to vote and be informed politically.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand written and oral materials on the role of the young adult in his or her community.
• Understand spoken or written information given by community organizations, schools and the media.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on young adults' involvement in politics.
• Comprehend literature pertaining to one's civic responsibility to be informed and aware of issues such as politics, the environment, and social issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate oral and written information pertaining to community involvement.
• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on civic responsibilities upon reaching adulthood.
• Produce and present original presentations highlighting one's community responsibility and civic rights.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Compare and contrast young adults' civic responsibilities in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast community structures and civic involvement in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects such as civics, government, and social sciences.
• Examine the assimilation process that a Russian undergoes upon arrival in his or her new environment in the U.S.
• Compare and contrast civic responsibilities of a young adult in the U.S. and Russian-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast the U.S. government to governments in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic and personal responsibilities in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast business transactions in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast linguistic conventions in English and Russian when discussing an individual's personal and civic responsibilities.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate voting practices and civic responsibilities in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to community involvement and civic responsibility
• Expressions of preference, agreement and disagreement
• Use of the conditional

Diversity, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to diversity.
• Discuss and/or debate prejudice and discrimination.
• Express and explain reactions to prejudice and discrimination.
• Express opinions and react to issues concerning human rights.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend and analyze written and oral materials on diversity and discrimination.
• Read and comprehend materials on prejudice in all societies.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and written reports on prejudice and discrimination throughout history.
• Produce an activity showing prejudice and discrimination and discuss possible solutions.
• Produce an oral or written presentation reflecting current trends and/or attitudes in society related to diversity.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to diversity and discrimination in the U.S. as well as in Russian-speaking countries.
• Explore bias in reporting human rights issues.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include humanities, social sciences, history and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards discrimination in the criminal justice system.
• Compare the Russian use of the subjunctive and conditional moods with English when discussing opinions.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of prejudice and discrimination.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political and social systems
• Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of conditional and subjunctive moods

Historical and Present Conflict

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss past and present conflicts including causes, resolutions, and impact on the world (e.g. World War 1, WWII, war in Iraq, etc.).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand current and historical texts relating to world conflict.
• Understand spoken presentations about world conflict, including news broadcasts, speeches and interviews.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Express differing points of view and opinions about world conflict.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Identify the sources of conflict within Russian-speaking cultures, such as language, religion, tradition, multi-ethnic regions, etc.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of world conflict from social studies classes to knowledge gained in Russian class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare prevailing opinions in the United States regarding world conflicts with those in Russian-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate information about world conflict in Russian-language resources.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to diplomacy, geography, and nationality
• Vocabulary related to opinions
• Past, present and future tenses
• Subjunctive mood

Crime and Justice

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to a crime or mystery story.
• Discuss the judicial system in Russian-speaking countries.
• Express and explain reactions to crime and the judicial system.
• Debate criminal cases.
• Express opinions about the effectiveness of various laws.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify relevant information or legal issues when listening to newscasts.
• Identify pertinent evidence when reading mystery stories.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Write and present a report on the judicial system in Russian-speaking countries.
• Produce oral and/or written book report in Russian on a mystery.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes when reacting to today's criminal justice system in the U.S. as well as in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, literature, biology and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards the criminal justice system.
• Compare the Russian use of past tenses with English when reading literature and current events.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of the criminal justice system in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political systems
• Vocabulary related to legal systems
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of past tenses and the passive voice

Theme 2: Globalization and Communication

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Debate issues concerning current events.
• Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and written reports and articles on current events.
• Develop and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to current events.
• Explore differences in reporting current events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, history, government and science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and Russian-speaking countries towards world events.
• Compare the Russian use of the perfect tense and the contrasting uses of the perfective and imperfective tenses with English when discussing world events.
• Recognize borrowed words and cognates from news articles and TV broadcasts in Russian and in English.
• Examine the differences between English and Russian uses of the subjunctive mood.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political systems
• Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of subjunctive mood, perfective versus imperfective, and passive voice

Politics

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in sustained conversation and/or debate about past and present political events.
• Debate merits of political candidates.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Read newspaper and magazine articles related to political events.
• Comprehend news broadcasts about political matters.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on elections.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce spoken or written presentations on varied political views.
• Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about politics.
• Produce spoken and/or written presentations on the various political parties in Russian-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the influence of history on the political systems of Russian-speaking countries to include monarchies, democracies, dictatorships, etc.
• Explore the influence different political systems have had on cultural aspects of Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of politics gained in government or social studies classes to information learned in Russian class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare the political systems in the U.S. and Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare the world view of the U.S. to world views of Russian-speaking countries (international law, conflicts, economic issues, etc.).
• Identify cognates and Russian terms related to politics.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet about political issues and events in Russian-speaking countries.
• Investigate the various voting policies in Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the legal system
• Vocabulary related to rights and responsibilities
• Vocabulary related to government, political parties, and elections
• Vocabulary related to economic issues
• Expressions used in negotiations

Technology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss the evolution of technology.
• Discuss the applications of technology in contemporary society.
• Describe how technology has influenced our society.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend oral and written information about the use of technology throughout history.
• Explore and understand the history of evolution of technology in today's society.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe how technology has created as well as solved problems in our society.
• Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about technology.
• Produce spoken or written presentations supporting the use of technology in our community.
• Use various technological techniques in a presentation to examine the use of technology in our community.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss attitudes towards technology in education and the workplace.
• Examine and discuss how technology has changed social interactions in today's society.
• Compare and contrast historical achievements without the use of modern technology.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss how technology is used in other disciplines, such as math, science, the humanities and vocational studies.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Increase awareness of the use of technology in Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify cognates and other vocabulary related to technology.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet about the evolution of technology.
• Use technology in the production of commercials, plays, recordings, menus, etc.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to technology

The Media

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to the media.
• Discuss the media's influence on current events.
• Discuss the impact of the media's presentation of current events.
• Analyze and discuss presentational techniques of the media.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections from print news sources or the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce an oral or written report on the positive and/or negative influence of the media.
• Develop and explain opinions and reactions to the media.
• Produce spoken and/or written presentations on the variety of ways in which the media can be used to slant the news.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore authentic media sources and discuss cultural attitudes when reacting to the media.
• Explore differences in media reporting.
• Explore how media presentations reflect cultural attitudes.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify and/or demonstrate a connection to various school subjects to include psychology, history, humanities, government and biology.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast reporting techniques of the American media with those of Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare the Russian use of the perfective and imperfective tenses with English past tenses when discussing current events.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of the media.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the media, past and present
• Vocabulary related to contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

Theme 3: Culture

Visual and Performing Arts

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express and elicit opinions pertaining to theatre, music, dance, the visual arts, and films.
• Express and elicit opinions concerning Russian-speaking artists and their work.
• Analyze information pertaining to the arts.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend the basic themes and historical and cultural contexts of Russian works of art.
• Explore and understand the history and evolution of various forms of Russian artistic expression.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to visual and performing arts from various time periods.
• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on people in the arts.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss how a particular work of art reflects the culture of a specific Russian-speaking country.
• Explore how music, art, theatre, dance, and films are influenced by historical and political events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various subjects to include music, art, and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and discuss different approaches to artistic productions observed in Russian-speaking countries and in the U.S.
• Compare the Russian use of the passive voice and the past tenses with English when discussing the arts and past events.

Communication Across Communities

• Compare popular films, stories and actors in Russian-speaking countries and the U.S.
• Study and compare the value placed on the arts in Russian-speaking countries versus the U.S.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the visual and performing arts

Historical Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to major political events in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the cause and effect that wars have had on Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss and analyze the various leaders in the history of Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss the success and failures of a variety of past regimes in Russian-speaking countries.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading materials pertaining to world history.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on historical events in Russian-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine racial and class differences within Russian societies.
• Investigate ideological differences of Russia, past and present.
• Explore current attitudes among the youth in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects including history, government, and political science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast social structures, economies, and political regimes of various Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify political or economic patterns in Russia since the Revolution.
• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards historical events.
• Explore the effects of communism on Russian vocabulary.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of the various political systems and historical events of Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to historical events and politics
• Expression of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

Literature

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to literature in Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss and critique major authors of Russian-speaking countries and their works.
• Discuss and analyze the various literary genres in literature from Russian-speaking countries.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading literature.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on writers from various time periods.
• Recite poetry from Russian-speaking writers.
• Perform a play written by a Russian-speaking author.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore how literature is influenced by historical and political events.
• Analyze how literature reflects cultural attitudes of Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects including the humanities and social sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards literature.
• Compare the Russian use of the perfective and imperfective tenses with English past tenses when discussing past events.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Russian to broaden understanding of Russian literature from Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Literary terminology
• Vocabulary related to historical events

Theme 4: Nature and Ecology

Environmental Issues and Problems

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Brainstorm different environmental issues and discuss ecological concerns.
• Identify environmental issues.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend informational materials pertaining to environmental issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Present problems and propose solutions to environmental issues.
• Produce and present well-organized spoken or written presentations on environmental issues and problems.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Compare and contrast environmental issues in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate environmental information gained in Russian class to information learned in other classes such as science and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast the ecological laws of the U.S. with those of Russian-speaking countries.
• Identify cognates that relate to environmental concerns and practices of various Russian-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate environmental concerns and practices of various Russian-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Environmental and ecological vocabulary
• Subjunctive mood
• Expressions related to giving opinions

Wildlife Conservation

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained exchange about wildlife, its impact on the environment, and issues concerning endangered species.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information on wildlife conservation from a variety of sources, such as TV, news, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe situations in a Russian-speaking country where wildlife conservation is currently being debated, giving details on specific fauna or wildlife, its habitat, and its importance to the environment.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the importance of protecting endangered species as part of the traditions and culture of a particular Russian-speaking country.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Share information learned about wildlife conservation in another class (e.g. biology).

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information from Russian sources on endangered species.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to wildlife conservation
• Expressions used in formulating hypotheses
• Terms and expressions used in oral debates or persuasive essays

Theme 5: Scientific and Creative Advancements

Health Issues and Disease Prevention

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained conversation about health issues such as nutrition, exercise, and maintaining good health.
• Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.
• Discuss the major health in our society.
• Discuss diseases of the last two decades (e.g. AIDS, Monkey Pox, SARS).
• Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand spoken and written information on health issues and disease prevention from a variety of sources such as short stories, TV, newspapers, magazines and the Internet.
• Understand and analyze current research on a variety of diseases.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe problems related to substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and poor sleeping habits.
• Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Russian-speaking countries and the U.S.
• Examine health issues and diseases as related to the lifestyles of Russian-speaking people.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Use knowledge of disease prevention and nutrition acquired in health classes.
• Use information gained in social studies classes to discuss the political implications of disease and health issues in Russian-speaking countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards health issues.
• Explore the emphasis on sports and exercise in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast eating habits in Russian-speaking countries and in the U.S.
• Compare the Russian use of the perfective and imperfective tenses with English past tenses when reading materials on health issues and medical discoveries.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific contributions to the field of disease prevention.
• Locate and use community resources and/or the Internet to broaden understanding of health-related issues and disease prevention.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to scientific and medical technology
• Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of the subjunctive mood and passive voice

Scientists and Mathematicians

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to scientists and mathematicians.
• Discuss inventions in science.
• Discuss scientific contributions from Russian-speaking countries.
• Discuss or debate the application of scientific research in medicine.
• Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze scientific research and inventions.
• Identify diseases, illnesses, and cures in oral and written materials.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Present well-organized spoken and written presentations on scientists, mathematicians, and medicine.
• Research and report on advancements in medicine to include curable and incurable diseases.
• Perform an activity about a scientist or mathematician from a Russian-speaking country.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes when reacting to scientific discoveries.
• Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Russian-speaking countries and the U.S.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include science, mathematicians, and social sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Russian-speaking countries towards science and mathematics.
• Explore the emphasis on mathematics and science in schools in Russian-speaking countries.
• Compare the Russian use of the perfective and imperfective tenses when reading scientific materials.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific and mathematical contributions.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to scientific and mathematical terminology
• Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of the subjunctive mood and passive voice