Developing lingvocultural competence through the New Year theme for students learning Russian as a foreign language: a practical approach

The development of lingvocultural competence among students learning Russian as a foreign language (RFL) is one of the key tasks of modern education. This not only facilitates the mastery of language norms but also aids in understanding cultural contexts, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of learning. This article examines the use of the New Year theme as a means to integrate linguistic and cultural components into the educational process. The aim of this research is to develop and test a methodology for forming lingvocultural competence through the creation of materials that reflect Russian New Year traditions. The methodology includes the creation of authentic video content using the InVideo AI platform and the development of a set of exercises aimed at improving listening, speaking, and writing skills. The results indicate that the New Year theme effectively contributes to the development of students’ lingvocultural competence, helping to develop essential language skills and improve the understanding of cultural nuances. The proposed methodology demonstrates a systematic approach to teaching RFL and holds practical value for educational institutions as well as for independent language study. Utilizing the New Year theme has proven to be an effective tool for integrating linguistic and cultural components, fostering a deeper understanding of both the language and culture. Thus, this research not only enriches existing methodological approaches but also offers new practical solutions for developing students’ lingvocultural competence, which remains a relevant challenge in foreign language teaching.