The role of national-cultural realities in RFL textbooks: examples for the Chinese audience

the role of national-cultural realities in textbooks for teaching Russian as a foreign language (RFL) is an important component of the learning process, especially for students from China. Understanding cultural specifics helps students not only master the language but also gain a deeper insight into the culture of the country with which the language is associated. In RFL textbooks for Chinese students, national-cultural realities serve not only to illustrate linguistic phenomena but also as a key element in forming a more comprehensive understanding of Russian society, traditions, and mentality. One of the main difficulties faced by Chinese students when learning Russian is the difference in mentality and cultural contexts. For example, Russian phrases and expressions related to everyday life, history, holidays, or traditions may have no counterparts in Chinese culture. This creates problems in perception, translation, and adaptation of these realities for foreigners. At the same time, the inclusion of such realities in teaching materials helps students better understand how Russians perceive the world and how their cultural traditions are reflected in language. Examples of national-cultural realities that are often found in RFL textbooks for Chinese audiences include concepts such as "May Day", "Maslenitsa", "Victory Day", as well as traditional Russian dishes like borscht, dumplings, and pancakes. These terms require a special approach, as many Chinese students may not be familiar with the significance of these holidays or customs related to these dishes. It is important for instructors to explain the contexts in which these realities are used and also to incorporate additional materials, such as films or articles, to help students see real examples of these cultural phenomena.

national-cultural realities, RFL textbooks, Chinese audience, cultural specifics, mentality, linguistic phenomena, holidays, traditions, the Russian language, foreign language teaching, adaptation, translation