Teaching Russian to Arab Students: Specifics and Recommendations of Practitioners

The 2^nd International Scientific and Methodological Seminar “Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language: Modern Problems and Solutions” was dedicated to specifics of teaching Russian as a foreign language to students from the Arab world. Scientists from Russia, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Serbia shared their ideas and best practices at the seminar.

Olga Prokhorova, the Director of the Institute for Intercultural Communication and International Relations, while opening the seminar stressed the topic relevance in the realities of modern life that require balanced solutions and approaches to methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language. Tatiana Samosenkova, Professor of the Department of Russian Language, Professional and Intercultural Communication, expressed her hope that the Russian language status would improve, and she emphasized professionalism of teachers demonstrating great experience in working with foreign audience.

Special attention was given to the topic of recruitment and major home regions of international students arriving from the Arab world. Elena Nazarenko, the Deputy Head of BelSU Preparatory Department, the curator of Arab Students Community, presented an effective model of interaction between a recruiting company and the university noting the great role of succession and tutoring in educational process.

The seminar also provided a good platform for senior students from Russia, Morocco and Iraq to voice their opinion.