Uchites

Uchites is the Russian language learning supplement to Russian Life magazine. Begun with support from the Russkiy Mir Foundation, its intent is to tie language learning exercises and readings into material that is published in each issue of the magazine. As each issue is published, a PDF copy of the Uchites supplement will be posted here, so that teachers can easily print out extra copies for students. Or so students can mark up these copies of Uchites, rather than their copies of Russian Life.

If you have comments or feedback on the Uchites supplements (for example, how you are using them, corrections, etc.), please send us a comment and we will post them on this page, to share with other teachers.

Uchites 01: Lyceum Day, Pushkin ~ Sep/Oct 2008

Uchites 02: Christmas Eve, Gogol ~ March/April 2009

Uchites 03: Plagiarism in Russia ~ May/June 2009

Uchites 04: Russian Television ~ July/Aug 2009

Uchites 05: The Return, Platonov ~ Sep/Oct 2009

Uchites 06: Lighthouse keeper: solve the mystery ~ Nov/Dec 2009

Uchites 07: Children stories, Tolstoy ~ Jan/Feb 2010

Uchites 07 - Audio: Lev Tolstoy: "The Pit"

Uchites 07 - Audio2: Lev Tolstoy: "The Squirrel and the Wolf"

Uchites 07 - Audio3: Lev Tolstoy: "The Tsar and the Shirt"

Uchites 08: Esenin: biography and poems ~ Sep/Oct 2010

Uchites 08 - Audio: Sergei Yesenin: "Letter to Mother"

Uchites 08 - Audio2: Sergei Yesenin: "Goodbye"

Uchites 09: Russian Art: Itinerants ~ Nov/Dec 2010

Uchites 09 - Audio: Description of a Repin painting

Uchites 10: Anna Akhmatova and Amedeo Modigliani ~ Jan/Feb 2011

Uchites 10 - Audio: Akhmatova: Szhala ruki

Uchites 10 - Audio2: Akhmatova: Dvadsat pervoe

Uchites 11: Travelling across Russia by bike ~ Mar/Apr 2011

Uchites 11 - Audio: Part One: Sentences

Why Don't Russians Smile?

It is a common trope that Russians never smile. Which of course is interpreted to mean they are unfriendly, gloomy, sullen – positively Dostoyevskian. This, of course, is a complete misreading of body language and cultural norms.

Culture Humor Language Russia File

February 24, 2023

Russia's Year of Horror

After a year of horrific war, why does a magazine like Russian Life continue? Why not simply wash our hands of it and walk away?

Culture History Journalism War Russia File

December 19, 2016

10 Things (And 5 Jokes) You Didn't Know About Brezhnev

Soviet leader Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev would have been 110 on December 19. There are plenty of fun facts and surprising jokes behind the eyebrows.

History Humor Politics Russia File

May 26, 2016

Two Miracles of Russian Love Poetry

On the occasion of Pushkin's birthday, we offer a post on the challenge of translating his most famous love lyrics, "Я вас любил," with a bonus look at Innokenty Annensky's "Среди миров."