Russian and the Pre‐Literate Language Learner: On the Development of a Methodology

  When the author was asked to design an enrichment program in Russian language for four‐year‐olds and kindergartners, the available literature provided little assistance. Consequently, the experience became a laboratory in which to develop appropriate methods for teaching young learners. Lexical items were introduced and reviewed through visual aids, games, songs, and acting. Only grammatically correct material was utilized, although the issue of adjective‐noun agreement was generally avoided and only limited verb forms were presented. Discussion of cultural material contrasted the lives of Soviet and American children. Although few of the children will continue to study Russian in grade school, perhaps the program's greatest strength has been to help dispel some misconceptions about the Soviet Union