A TEACHERS’ GUIDE TO
WORKING ON A LUXURY YACHT
Title of Scenario
Working on a Luxury Yacht
Language and level
Russian A1
Duration (estimated)
2h
Requirements
Nearly all activities require some computer/Internet
access although printed alternatives are possible
This scenario starts with a difficult task where the students will have to rely on extra-linguistic
cues. Tell the students that it will become easier afterwards. The yacht pictures need to be in the
start because the scenario is centred around such vessels.
1. FINDING THE RIGHT YACHT IN THE MARINA
TASK
NO. 1
Type of task
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Matching pictures and technical data of yachts
Images and text
1
10 min.
Maritime technical terminology
Written reception
This activity shouldn’t take very long. It is very important to make sure that students will not have
the impression that they need to understand very much at all. The point we’re trying to make is
that it is possible to USE texts, even if they are in Russian/Cyrillic. The tip about an online
translator is to be seen as an option if students feel like doing a little extra. KEY: From top to
bottom: Eclipse, Angel 42, Belle Anna, and Dubai.
2. READING IN CYRILLIC
TASK
NO. 1
Type of task
Close reading and comparing
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Two alphabets
2
40 min.
Letters, pronunciation
Written reception and phoneme realisation
www.translit.ru + http://translate.google.com
2a. Compare with the Latin Alphabet
This activity must be done with Internet access, preferably in groups of 2-3 students. It is possible
to do it in class too. The website TRANSLIT.RU is a fantastic asset for playing with the Cyrillic
script.
KEY:
a) What letters are identical in the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets?
A, E, K, M, O, T
b) Which ones do exist in both, but look different?
Б (B), B (V), Г (G), Д (D), З (Z), И (I), Й (J), Л (L), H (N), П (P), P (R), C (S), У (U), Ф (F),
X (H)
c) Which ones are missing in either one?
Ё, Ж, Ц, Ч, Ш,, Щ, ъ, Ы, ь, Э, Ю, Я are missing in the Latin and Q and X are missing in the
Cyrillic.
d) How can the letters in c) be transcribed?
Ё as yo/jo, Ж as zh, Ц as ts, Ч as ch, Ш as sh, Щ as shh, ъ (omitted), Ы as y, ь (omitted or
’), Э as e or ä, Ю as yu/ju, Я as ya/ja. Latin Q can be K and Latin H can be Г or X in
Cyrillic.
Now try to read and pronounce these words. One easy thing in Russian is that the spelling and
pronunciation are very closely related. Feel free to use help on the web, i.e. Google Translate, for
the pronunciation!
The key to this activity is the same as for the students: Google Translate.
история
революция
спасибо
советский
союз
Крым
география
коммунист
нет
Ленинград
трактор
капиталист
да
Сталинград
телефон
специалист
привет
Белое море
Москва
Камчатка
Волга
туалет
музыка
водка
Санкт
Петербург
Ладога
театр
сестра
ресторан
Балтийское
море
бизнисмен
спорт
бабушка
навигация
Чёрное
море
препстройка
2b. Dictionary
KEY:
a) How many of the Russian words are NOT similar to the English ones on these two pages of
the dictionary?
About 15 words are NOT similar to English (but some of them are similar to other Germanic
and Romance languages).
b) Try and pronounce some of the easy words in a Russian fashion. Are there any rules as to
how to pronounce that you can come up with?
This is an open question and the answers depend on the native language of the person who
answers.
c) List the letters that you find difficult to remember or pronounce. In what words are they
present?
The “difficult” letters are likely to be the ones listed under c) above.
2c. Reading a map with place names
Reading Russian is easier if you know what the words are supposed to mean. Make a list of 15
towns from the map below with both Cyrillic and Latin letters.
KEY: Check with a map using Latin characters!
Another thing: French and English (and more languages) are really difficult when it
comes to knowing how to pronounce names, take Saint Quentin for example or Calais or Norwich.
No problem in Cyrillic. List 5 places with their names written just the way they are supposed to be
pronounced in Cyrillic (but not in English or French)!
Use www.translit.ru and a translation site with pronunciation.
KEY: Check with a map using Latin characters!
3. USEFUL PHRASES IN SMALL TALK
TASK
NO. 3
Type of task
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Decoding simple phrases in context
Key words and sound clips
5
40 min.
The very most common phrases
Oral reception
Sound files
The very most common and easiest phrases in Russian – a fantastic way to open up for good
communication – everybody appreciates a good try with a positive attitude.
a) Listen to the dialogues and match them to the right English ones and the Russian
transcriptions below (not in the right order here). Most of the short phrases in the box here
will be used.
KEY: The dialog 1 clip goes with the dialogue on the far right in English. The dialog 2 clip
goes with the dialogue on the far left in English. The dialog 3 clip goes with the dialogue in
the middle in English. The Russian dialogues are in the same order as the clips.
b) Listen to the soundtracks and look at the list of useful phrases for introducing oneself, basic
functions, and small talk. Which phrases are used in which dialogue?
KEY: See the highlighted cells in the table below!
c) Can you guess what the phrases mean? Your best guesses are good enough!
KEY:
1. What’s your email address? 2. Where is the toilet? 3. Very pleasant! (Pleased to meet
you!) 4. Hello! 5. Good morning/afternoon/evening! 6. See you later! 7. What is your
name? 8. My name is Alexey, and yours? 9. Everything OK? 10. How are things? 11.
Good/well 12. Thank you! 13. Please! 14. Nothing! (Don’t mention it!) 15. Yes 16. No
17. Maybe 18. Pardon me! 19. Goodbye! 20. Where are you from? 21. I’m from
Moscow.
d) Try to pronounce them, but it is not the intention that you remember them. Some of them
might stick anyway.
1. Каков ваш адрес
электронной
почты?
4. Привет!
7. Как вас зовут?
2. Где здесь туалет?
3. Очень приятно!
5. Здравствуйте!
8. Меня зовут
Алексей, а Вас?
6. Пока!
9. Всё в порядке?
10. Как дела?
13. Пожалуйста!
16. Нет.
19. До свидания!
11. Хорошо.
14. Ничего!
17. Может быть.
20. Откуда ты?
12. Спасибо!
15. Да.
18. Простите!
21. Я из Москвы.
e) Make a dialogue and perform (in pairs). It should be a dialogue in preparation for the job
application. Pay attention to how the written language and the pronunciation relate to each
other! Feel free to use the Internet for help.
4. THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
TASK
NO. 4
Type of task
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Planning a day off
Matching text and sound clips
1
20 min.
Seamanship terms
Written reception, oral reception
Sound files and timetable
This is what one of the officers did during a normal week at work. (See Appendix 1 for a version
with some words transcribed the Latin alphabet.) Listen to the sound files below and try to match
them to the right day of the week. Use the picture clues further down.
The timetable contains the following activities:
The seven days of the week. The heading HOUR for the left column. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and
dinner. Monday: Navigation, plotting charts, mooring. Tuesday: Meeting, Purchasing provisions,
loading provisions, planning of work, checking the hull cleaning, spare time. Wednesday: Safety
drills, checking deck cleaning, spare time. Thursday: hull painting, navigation, unloading waste and
sewage. Friday: inspection of rigging, navigation, watch. Saturday: workplace familiarization, spare
time. Sunday: spare time.
Key to the sound files: Thursday, Friday, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday
Key to the clues: Meeting, spare time, loading, waste, rig, work, cleaning, paint work,
5. HELP THE OWNER TO HIRE NEW STAFF
TASK
NO. 5
Type of task
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Matching, choosing
Text and pictures
2
20 min.
Names, interests, descriptions
Written reception
You are asked by a senior officer to help out when selecting a cook and a deckhand.
This activity is based on general knowledge of personal information and the hiring process. All
words are not necessary to understand. However, it is likely that student will want to translate a
word or two.
a) Match pictures to profiles of applicants: competences, cultural background, position sought,
age, sex, looks, and interests.
KEY: The men are, from the right, Ivan, Pavel, Mikhail, Alexander
b) Decide which one would be best for work on the yacht. You want to hire a deckhand and a
steward.
KEY: It is a matter of taste (age and spare time interests). The two top ones can be cooks,
the lower two navigation officers.
6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF RUSSIA
TASK
NO. 6
Type of task
Type of input
No. of activities
Duration
Contents
Communicative
functions
Files and links
to use
Matching
Sound, text and pictures
2
40 min.
Geography, food, names of people and places
Oral and written reception
Sound files
You need to brush up your knowledge of life in Russia in order to understand the guests onboard
and to be able to join conversations – also in English.
6a. Typical features of Russian geography
KEY: The soundtracks are in this order. The matching pictures are stated next to each one.
1. Море – morye: F
2. Гора – gora: B
3. ГЭС (Гидроэлектроста́нция) – GES
(gidroelektrostantsiya): D
4. Курорт – kurort: C
5. Озеро – ozero: A
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Порт – port: E
Река – reka: J
Тайга – taiga: G
Тундра – tundra; H
Железная дорогa - zheleznaja
doroga: I
6b. Famous Russians
a) Match the right names with the right pictures and try to recall what made these people
famous.
KEY: First row: Kalashnikov, Stalin, and Putin. Second row: Dostoyevsky, Gagarin, and
Pussy Riot. Third row: Kasparov, Catherine the Great, Khrushchev. The reasons why these
people are famous are perhaps well-known.
b) Try to read the names and professions out loud when you only see them in Russian. They
might sound different in Russian than in your own language. Check by inserting at a
website where you get pronunciation.
KEY: Yes, the names sometimes sound very differently from the way they have been made
to conform to other languages’ sound systems and spelling conventions. Therefore it is
necessary to know the way Russian-speaking people say the, in order to be able to refer to
the same person at all.