Forming pronunciation skills for the sound [r] at the initial stage of teaching Russian as a foreign language to Chinese speakers

The aim of this study is to justify the need for the development of supplementary teaching methods and techniques for the initial stage of forming pronunciation skills for the sound [r], based on an analysis of the introductory phonetic sections of Chinese textbooks on the Russian language. The article examines the challenges of auditory-pronunciation skills related to the sound [r] when teaching Chinese speakers and analyzes the results of a pedagogical experiment that confirms the relevance of the pronunciation problem of the sound [r] among Chinese learners. The introductory phonetic sections of two popular Chinese textbooks on Russian as a foreign language for the initial level of learning were investigated. A connection was established between phonetic errors in the pronunciation of the sound [r] and the amount of instructional material in the selected teaching materials. A set of methodological techniques for pronouncing the sound [r] was developed and tested. The scientific novelty lies in the development of a set of methodological techniques as supplementary learning material aimed at effectively forming pronunciation skills for the sound [r]. This study shows the following results: firstly, an analysis of a survey of Chinese learners revealed that the sound [r] causes the greatest difficulties in the pronunciation of Russian sounds; secondly, the investigated Chinese textbooks on Russian as a foreign language showed a lack of methodological tools for forming the skill of correct pronunciation of the sound [r]; thirdly, a set of supplementary methodological techniques for the step-by-step setting of the pronunciation of the sound [r] with the inclusion of a speech therapy component was justified and developed: explanation of articulation, comparison of the Russian sound with sounds of the native language, articulatory exercises, automation of isolated pronunciation of the sound, and consolidation of the sound in syllables.