Teaching conversational language skills to foreign students: Blended learning and interactive approaches

The timeliness of the present study is a consequence of the changing status of the Russian language in the global communication landscape. The growing international significance of Russian requires the development of new language teaching methods. This article aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of employing a blended learning approach to teaching “Russian as a foreign language” with the use of authentic speaking situations, and to show the relevance of interactive education to the teaching of conversational language skills. The primary research method for this problem is a practical method of interactive learning that allows students to hold a constructive dialogue. The author proposes a new pedagogical genre, “convergent lecture,” which takes a different approach to the instruction of foreign students. The article explains how students’ experience of acting out potential social roles in the Russian as a foreign language classroom develops their ability to speak pragmatically in everyday, professional, and educational contexts. The findings of this article may be helpful for scholars who develop educational programs for foreign students, as well as instructors interested in helping their students develop more practical communication skills in a foreign environment. © 2016 Evtyugina, Simonova and Fedorenko

Metaphysics of Labor in Russian Culture: Part One

The article tries to describe a complex phenomenon in Russian culture and philosophy - the metaphysics of labor.  Much attention is paid to Russian philosophical thought of the beginning of the 20th century, and the views of L.N. Tolstoy to this problem.  The question is raised about the formation of economic and labor ethics in Russia, as well as the religious motivation of work. The axiological value of labor for the Russian person is determined, the metaphysical essence of labor in the national image of the world is revealed.  This was still discussed by religious thinkers.  S.N. Bulgakov wrote about the "sophisticated" nature of labor activity.  The study also examines the phenomenon of laziness, the category of "leisure", "free time" in the context of spiritual Russian culture.  The connection of labor activity with moral categories is traced.  The work involves analytical, historical, descriptive and systematic methods of analysis

Sociological analysis of remote work as a new format of current population employment in Russia

The article discusses remote work as a subject of scientific research, describes the factors stimulating the development of distance employment and substantiates the need for a sociological study of this phenomenon in view of the high potential for the impact of changes in forms of employment not only on the labor market, but also on other social structures. Sociologists extremely rarely consider the remote work, despite the increased relevance in recent years, as a subject of study. Scientific publications devoted to remote work as the main type of employment, as a rule, relate to personnel management issues. However, it should be noted that changes in the structure of employment can also affect other social institutions, processes and relationships: the institution of the family, domestic relations, social and professional communications, social mobility, and the very relationship of a person to work. The authors have conducted preliminary monitoring of the media and blogosphere in the Tyumen region and come to the conclusion that, as of today, the applied research methods do not allow to fully reveal the impact of remote employment on all spheres of social life and describe the trends. Therefore, an in-depth sociological analysis of telecommuting with the help of in-depth interviews, interviews with experts, questionnaires to specialists employed in the labor market and representatives of the authorities is required to identify trends, prospects and social consequences

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE STABILITY OF LATERAL ROCKS WITH A SUPPLE SUPPORT

A complex of analytical studies of the stability of lateral rocks with a supple support, where the coal seam roof was a beam model, some laboratory experiments on samples made from optical and equivalent materials, as well as some mine experiments were was carried out. As a result of the studies, it was found that the stability of lateral rocks with a supple support of crushed rock depended on the compaction of the backfill array on which the roof rocks were based. It was experimentally proved that with external force, the coefficient of compaction of the backfill array changes according to the hyperbolic dependence, the maximum values of which were determined as a result of compaction of the supple support consisting of heterogeneous fractions of the starting material of a certain bulk density. The change in the stress-strain state of the lateral rocks in the coal array with a roadway depended on the bending stiffness of the stratified rock mass and the parameters of flexible structures used to support the roadway. When supporting the roadways with supple support structures, the convergence of the lateral rocks on the contour of the stoop roadway was observed exponentially until the support was completely compressed, while supporting the roadways with coal pillars, the displacement of the rocks on the contour of the roadway increased having linear dependence due to the destruction of the pillar. The stability of the lateral rocks, which determines the operational state of the excavation roadways, was ensured by the use of supple supports or stowing the mined-out space, taking into account the reasonable granulometric content of crushed rock, which ensured the maximum values of the compaction coefficient of the backfill array when the roof and coal seat got deformed.A complex of analytical studies of the stability of lateral rocks with a supple support, where the coal seam roof was a beam model, some laboratory experiments on samples made from optical and equivalent materials, as well as some mine experiments were was carried out. As a result of the studies, it was found that the stability of lateral rocks with a supple support of crushed rock depended on the compaction of the backfill array on which the roof rocks were based. It was experimentally proved that with external force, the coefficient of compaction of the backfill array changes according to the hyperbolic dependence, the maximum values of which were determined as a result of compaction of the supple support consisting of heterogeneous fractions of the starting material of a certain bulk density. The change in the stress-strain state of the lateral rocks in the coal array with a roadway depended on the bending stiffness of the stratified rock mass and the parameters of flexible structures used to support the roadway. When supporting the roadways with supple support structures, the convergence of the lateral rocks on the contour of the stoop roadway was observed exponentially until the support was completely compressed, while supporting the roadways with coal pillars, the displacement of the rocks on the contour of the roadway increased having linear dependence due to the destruction of the pillar. The stability of the lateral rocks, which determines the operational state of the excavation roadways, was ensured by the use of supple supports or stowing the mined-out space, taking into account the reasonable granulometric content of crushed rock, which ensured the maximum values of the compaction coefficient of the backfill array when the roof and coal seat got deformed

Склонность к социальному серфингу среди молодежи России: региональная специфика

Introduction. The phenomenon of social surfing, as a specific mobility strategy, largely determines the life of Y and Z generations, and creates an ambiguous context in terms of threats and opportunities for the formation of life trajectories of Russian youth. This actualised the search for theoretical and methodological foundations of understanding and practical tools for assessing the state of this problem, which, in turn, made it possible to scale this phenomenon in the context of the modern youth environment in Russia. The aim of the present research was to identify the degree of loyalty and potential tendency to use the "social surfing" strategy by the representatives of young people in Russian regions, taking into account the assessment of the approval of gender models of this behaviour strategy. Research methodology, methods and techniques. The methodological framework for describing the phenomenon of social surfing is based on the social topology of M. Castells, the heterological concept of the rhizome by J. Deleuze and F. Guattari, the philosophy of mobility by J. Urry, Z. Bauman, U. Beck, the theory of transitivity (E. M. Dubovskaya, T. D. Martsinkovskaya, E. A. Kiselev), the studies of the specifics of youth identity and self-realisation in social space (M. C. Schippers, N. Ziegler, M. Loreto Martínez, P. Cumsille, A. K. Vikulov, T. V. Plotnikova and others) and the modern concepts of happiness (M. Argyll, D. A. Leontiev, A. L. Zhuravlev and others) The study was conducted in different regions of Russia (Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Glazov) using psychodiagnostic methodology "Propensity to social surfing of young people" developed by the authors. The study involved young people (N = 510 people aged 18-27 years old, among them female - 68 %, male - 32 %). Results and scientific novelty. It was found that 11.2 % of young men and women approve of social surfing, evaluate its behavioural model as positive and allow similar options for choosing their own life trajectory. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in loyalty to the social surfing strategy among young people living in different regions of the Russian Federation: the greatest loyalty was manifested by the young residents of Ekaterinburg, Glazov, and Kazan, while the residents of Chelyabinsk predominantly demonstrated a negative attitude to this strategy. The respondents showed an unequal attitude towards male and female social surfing models: with a relatively condescending attitude towards the male model, social surfing of women is frowned upon and is associated with weakness and statement. Meanwhile, the approval of the male model of social surfing creates certain risks of marginalisation and value-semantic anomie among young people. The practical significance of the conducted research is due to the potential possibilities of using the data obtained for choosing approaches to work with young people in the conditions of their high mobility, as well as for creating educational and professional trajectories. © 2021 Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University. All rights reserved.The current research was supported by the grant from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), project No. 16-33-01057 OGN

Modelling of conditions of development of network structures

The present stage of development of the economy is characterized by fast changes in the external environment, an increase in processes of globalization, growing competition, uncertainty and chance in the field of administrative decision making. Under such conditions, traditional forms of organization are replaced with network forms as the most effective and adaptive ones. The development of inter-firm relations, an increase in the number and variety of forms of network organizations cause the necessity of searching and assessing factors influencing this process. One of the most attractive forms of network interaction is the cluster. Regional and interregional clusters are considered as priority interindustry complexes which define the development of the economy at the national and regional level. Their formation is connected with the processes of integration of production and other organizations within one uniform territory for creating an effective industrial structure of the economy. Manufacturing enterprises and other organizations, combined in a cluster, hold a steady position amid market volatility thanks to a flexible cluster structure, synergetic effect, saving on transaction expenses, to an effective exchange of knowledge and information. In the article, the mechanisms of formation of cluster structures are considered; conditions of their effective functioning are analyzed. Special attention is paid to external factors of the successful development and formation of frame conditions of the development of clusters. On the basis of international statistics on the development of cluster structures in different countries of the world and using tools of statistical research, dependence between the development of cluster structures and a number of external conditions promoting it is shown. In this work, the importance of such factors as the development of an institutional environment, infrastructure, financial market, education, technological readiness for economy clustering is noted. On the basis of the obtained results recommendations about the development of clusters are made.Современный этап развития экономики характеризуется быстрыми изменениями во внешней среде, нарастанием процессов глобализации, повышением уровня конкуренции, неопределенности и случайности в области принятия управленческих решений. В таких условиях традиционные формы организации замещаются сетевыми формами, как наиболее эффективными и адаптивными. Развитие межфирменных отношений, увеличение числа и разнообразия форм сетевых организаций вызывают необходимость поиска и оценки факторов, влияющих на этот процесс. Одной из наиболее привлекательных форм сетевого взаимодействия на сегодняшний момент является кластер. Региональные и межрегиональные кластеры рассматриваются как приоритетные межотраслевые комплексы, которые определяют развитие экономики на национальном и региональном уровне. Их формирование связывают с процессами интеграции производственных и иных организаций в рамках единой территории для получения эффективной промышленной структуры экономики. Объединенные в кластер производственные предприятия и другие организации занимают устойчивое положение в условиях волатильной рыночной конъюнктуры за счет гибкой кластерной структуры, синергетического эффекта, экономии на трансакционных издержках, эффективному обмену знаниями и информацией. В статье рассматриваются механизмы формирования кластерных структур, анализируются условия их эффективного функционирования. Особое внимание уделяется внешним факторам успешного развития, формированию рамочных условий развития кластеров. На основе данных международной статистики по развитию кластерных структур в разных странах мира и используя инструментарий статистических исследований, показана зависимость между развитием кластерных структур и способствующих этому ряда внешних условий. В работе отмечается важность таких факторов, как развитие институциональной среды, инфраструктуры, финансового рынка, образования, технологическая готовность для кластеризации экономики. На основе полученных результатов даются рекомендации по развитию кластеров.Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке Российского гуманитарного научного фонда, грант № 15-02-000158

The Phenomenon of Fishing in the Context of Human–Northern Nature Interaction: Network, Vitality, Communication

Received 16 June 2023. Accepted 16 August 2023. Published online 6 October 2023.The article analyzes the fishing phenomenon in the context of interaction between people and Northern nature. An attempt is made to move away from a purely social aspect of considering the phenomenon and come to a broader, namely, network-related context of its understanding. The theoretical and methodological approach (theoretical framework) of the research team is based on: (a) the actor-network theory of French sociologist Bruno Latour and his conceptual studies on the history of understanding of “nature” that serve, directly or indirectly, as the basis for the modern Western ecological discourse; (b) Vladimir V. Bibikhin’s phenomenological reception of the Aristotelian understanding of living nature as a kind of perfect automaton, i.e., self-moving order of living matter change; (c) Yan V. Chesnov’s conceptual understanding of the phenomenon of “vitality” as part of the development of Nikolay A. Nosov’s virtual paradigm. At the empirical level, the research used the method of in-depth and expert interviews. A total of 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted in the spring and fall of 2022 in the Murmansk region. All the respondents were directly or indirectly connected with fishing practice: fishermen of the Murmansk region, including those who systematically violate fishing rules for the Northern Fishery Basin, employees of the territorial department of Rosrybolovstvo [Russian Federal Fisheries Agency], employees of Poliarnyi nauchno-issledovatel’skii institut morskogo rybnogo khoziaistva i okeanografii (PINRO) [Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography] named after N. M. Knipovich, representatives of local administration in the Tersky, Kola, and Kandalaksha districts of the Murmansk region, representatives of the tourist branch, etc. The interviews became the empirical basis of the research. This paper considers the popularity of informal fishing practices in the Murmansk region as an expression of existential and mental craving in response to the stimulating appeal, or even “challenge”, of nature. Accordingly, the researchers link the inherent desire of fishermen to catch fish for food, refreshment, and sale not so much with the sociocultural context, as with the natural (vital) desire to fulfill oneself as a natural being. The work understands the natural not as being in opposition to the social order, but as underlying and permeating that order.The research was carried out at the expense of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation No. 22-28-20435 “The phenomenon of fishing poaching on inland waters of the Murmansk region as a social practice and problem”, and with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Murmansk region under Agreement 111