Do We Need Canonical Ways of Learning Russian?

LONDON, September 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

A London-based Russian language teacher, author of two unconventional Russian language textbooks used world-wide, has now published his third - most mysterious - textbook now available on Amazon and in selected bookstores world-wide. 

'The Story Canonisation: for learners of the Russian language (for those who are still alive)' - "Rasskaz-kanonizatsiya" in Russian (ISBN 978-1514856550) - follows the continuing story of George, a Guadeloupean banker embarking on a journey that sees his day to day life set against a series of most peculiar events. But there also is a second, historical storyline, following a Russian professor who fled his country after the Bolshevik 1917 Revolution. Their lives cross… in the book.

"I was inspired by the talent of Mikhail Bulgakov, who mastered the skill of talking about complex subjects in an ironic form, I began writing the book which you can now see," says Ignaty Dyakov.

The author is a professional Russian language teacher based in London. He was inspired to write a series of stories that would teach useful vocabulary and grammar after some of his business clients complained that existing text-books were boring and had no relation to real life.

So his textbooks are fascinating detective stories with characters from different cultural backgrounds meeting in Guadeloupe, Russia and Europe. They live, love, work and relax. And most importantly they fight the world's evil, show exceptional ethics both in life and their work and give us better understanding of what is kinder and ethical life.

Mr Dyakov said: "This book was much more difficult to write than the previous two. The issue for me was the context, the life context. 2014-2015 have not been easy years for Russia and Russians, no matter what their political views. This was not easy time for me either. It is this complexity and the ambiguousness of what happened - constantly referring to history - that I wanted to reflect upon in my book. Yet, I was writing a textbook, the key goal of which is to help learners of the Russian language. Moreover, there is an understanding that a textbook nowadays should be kind, humorous and inviting as there is far too much negativity around us, especially in the media and on social networks."

Applied in all Ignaty's books is an innovative and unusual textbook technique, which has already received much acclaim from eminent Russian specialists.

"Undoubtedly, this textbook makes language learning more fun, interesting and thus less challenging. It can be recommended as an addition to any Russian language textbook for A1-B1 levels - your students will definitely succeed and progress in Russian language learning!" says Professor Galina Levina, vice-provost of The Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, about Ignaty Dyakov's second book, "The Story Provocation".

And on the first book Professor Lyudmila Verbitskaya, the President of the International Association of Teachers of the Russian language and literature, President of St Petersburg State University said: "Unconventional material… Specifics of the pedagogical technology suggested by the author are based on the text principle and oriented at active learning and development of the creative language personality… The work laudably impresses and can be used as a textbook for foreign learners."

All books have been tested on Ignaty's students who confirm that the story line keeps them intrigued and motivated to read more. This technique helps develop their language skills, and makes the learning process more bearable, if not enjoyable.

Much of the book is conducted in dialogues, and there are lists of new words and questions for conversation practice in every chapter. The story is written in slightly simplified Russian, to aid recognising and memorising grammar structures, and there are questions and/or grammar exercises at the end of each chapter.

The audio-version of the book is available as well. Wholesale orders are to be placed with Russia Local Ltd directly.

"The Story Canonisation" has been published with generous support by Gallus Consulting (http://www.gallusconsulting.com) and Mr Guy Willner, publisher of "Stranger in Saint Petersburg" by Vesla Stranger. 

About the Author 

Mr Dyakov is a Russian, who came to the UK in 2008 and founded Russia Local Ltd (http://www.russianinlondon.com), which provides linguistic support for companies planning to expand in Russia, including Russian language training, translation and marketing services and business consulting. He is a member of the UK Society of Authors, Chartered Institute of Linguists and the Institute of Directors and frequently talks and comments on the Russia-related topics in the international media, like BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters etc.