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2010: Oct Nov
SEPTEMBER
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Can you imagine reading the likes of Leo Tolstoy—just five minutes a day—and this without carrying a heavy book? The American publisher of serialised digital books DailyLit currently offers 14 titles of Russian Classics in English translations – and all this for free e-mailed to you in short instalments! For non-Russian speakers it’s an easy way to expand their horizons in Russian literature. It’s also a great opportunity for all Russian native speakers to improve their English by reading works they know well. So how do you do it? Just sign up, pick your favourite from the virtual bookshelf, choose the time, frequency and length of instalments and enjoy it as an email or a RRS feed! There are five Russian iconic authors in the category to choose from, such as: Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Turgenev, Gogol and Chekhov. The visual covers and free previews make the selection simple. For more information, please visit http://www.dailylit.com/tags/russian The DailyLit is a practical solution for busy, technology-friendly book aficionados. “Our audience includes people like us, who spend hours on email each day but can’t find the time to read the book“, DailyLit’s co-founder Albert Wenger explained to Reuters the reason behind the launch of the company in May 2007. Since then, the website has expanded to over 1000 titles: from fiction and romance to language learning and science fiction. Many titles are available for free and some for a small charge. There is even more to check out on the website—free samples of new book releases, customer ratings, book discussion forums and gift options. Reviewed by Evgenia van Berkel
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OCTOBER
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Are you keen to improve your English ? Or just struggling with the preparation for the IELTS1 test? Then continue reading and forward this information to your friends in Russia who learn English too.
The brand new third series of this popular television and online learning program by INSEARCH2 and Australia Network3 is designed to address IELTS that is recognised in 120 countries. However, this learning resource (intermediate to advanced levels) is targeted at everyone who is interested in English, not only at international students or migrants coming to Australia.
Listening, reading, speaking and writing are the skills necessary to pass IELTS and were also addressed by the two preceding STUDY ENGLISH programs. However, this third series focuses on authentic spoken (everyday) speech. For the first time, the texts are provided with both spoken and written versions making it easier for those, who have never been to an English speaking country, to understand how the language can be used for everyday purposes.
The program also deals with topics featuring in IELTS such as family, education, employment, society, culture, technology and transport.
STUDY ENGLISH allows you to study at your own pace by watching single episodes, reading notes and transcripts, doing exercises and practising the pronunciation and spelling of key words and phrases (with the help of an online vocabulary).
Try out STUDY ENGLISH under www.australianetwork.com/studyenglish
1International English Language Testing System
2Pathway provider of University of Technology Sydney
3The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) Asia-Pacific Arm
Sources:
http://www.newsroom.uts.edu.au/news/detail.cfm?ItemId=19902
http://australianetwork.com/studyenglish
Reviewed by Evgenia Van Berkel
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NOVEMBER
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The project SovMusic.ru is for everyone interested in the history and culture of the Soviet Union. The website offers over 5,000 free records (all released before 1985) that include patriotic, revolutionary and war songs, Soviet posters and speeches by Lenin, Stalin, Molotov, Khrushev, Gagarin etc. Songs range from Soviet hits to less known and rare records; from songs dedicated to Soviet leaders and Che Guevara to political songs in German, English, Swedish, Turkish and Chinese. The website is easy to navigate, as the collection is arranged thematically into ‘Motherland’, ‘Revolutionary’, ‘Military Marches’, ’Internationale’, ‘Labour Songs’, ‘Soviet Cities’, ‘About Sea’, ‘Sport’, ‘Komsomol’ and ‘Pioneer songs’. Ratings, comments and descriptions further contribute to the website’s user-friendliness. You can listen to Top 20 or search for a particular song by title, author, composer and singer, read into lyrics and share your opinion via a forum. The website is being regularly updated on the sound quality and accuracy of texts. Some sections are also available in English under http://www.sovmusic.ru/english/index.php . All records can be also purchased on CDs. For more information, visit www.sovmusic.ru By Evgenia van Berkel
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