Teaching Russian in the Digital Age: An AI-Supported Pedagogical Assessment

This study investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into Russian language teaching within a hybrid educational model. It distinguishes AI from generative AI and outlines their analytical and content-production functions in language education. The literature suggests that AI enhances learner motivation through personalization, interaction, and automated feedback, yet studies focusing specifically on Russian language instruction are limited. Conducted at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 academic years, this research employs qualitative observation to evaluate the effectiveness, benefits, and limitations of AI-supported Russian courses offered as a second foreign language. The eight-stage assessment indicates that AI use increases students’ curiosity, confidence, and participation, while cultural nuances remain difficult to fully convey through technology. The study concludes that effective implementation requires teacher AI literacy and careful tool selection, providing a methodological reference for future research