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Food preparation and consumption is an essential part of culture. Leaving their homeland and finding themselves in a society with eating habits different from theirs, migrants face a dilemma of adapting their diets to those customary in their new place of residence or trying to maintain their food habits. Relying on the ethnographic method and applying thematic and critical discourse analyses, this article explores how Russian-speaking migrants discuss changes in their foodways and what role Russian food stores play in the life of immigrant communities. Material for analyses was drawn from fieldwork conducted in Finland, Germany, Israel, and Switzerland. It includes in-depth interviews, immigrants’ essays, and group discussions. We also studied culinary discussion groups on Facebook and documented linguistic landscape related to food consumption in the diaspora. Among the salient themes in the discourse dealing with eating habits abroad are food nostalgia, trying out familiar recipes with new products, evaluating traditional dishes of the host society, and re-evaluating Russian cuisine, searching for the right food in the new country and trying to showcase the best of one’s own cooking to other people. Immigrants’ discourse about food and the labels on the food products available in “Russian” stores outside Russia reveal frequent use of paroemias and quotations and allusions to Soviet and post-Soviet popular culture. Russian-speaking immigrants’ reflections about their old and new foodways reveal that they are an integral part of search for a new hybrid self-identity.

This article presents research on teaching English in Israel, a vibrant multilingual country, in the period between 2014 and 2020. After a brief introduction to the current approach to English language teaching around the world, it outlines the studies investigating: (a) learners of English, (b) English teachers, and (c) methods that are used in the country for teaching English. We explore how various student populations, Arabs, Bedouins, Circassians, Druze, Charedi (ultra-orthodox Jews), Jews, and foreign students, are taught English as well as their attitudes to this language. Then, we discuss research investigating different categories of English teachers in Israel, including teachers in Arab and Jewish sectors, the teachers labeled as 'native speakers', and also teacher trainers and teacher-training principles. We look at secondary and high school students, including those in special education, as well as those who take English courses in tertiary educational institutions. Finally, we are interested in whether innovative teaching methods compete with the conventional ones and which groups of learners have access to the former. Throughout the article, we aim to show to what extent practitioners and researchers are aware of the present-day realities of the interconnectedness of 'teacher, student, and method' elements and the impact of multilingualism on English teaching in Israel. This Country in Focus report also considers the current holistic perspective on English language teaching. This language should not be taught in isolation but work in concert with other contact languages.

The Russian-speaking space plays an important role for diasporans: starting a business, founding a company, seeking legal advice, or high-quality medical treatment is always more convenient when participants understand the nuances of communication in a common language. It facilitates the understanding of highly specialized fields such as legislation and medicine. In business, it makes presumptions and expectations transparent, and common values allow the quality scale to be defined and shared. The sphere of activities conducted in the diaspora in Russian depends on the contingent of immigrants: their education, career aspirations, and interests. Integration in a new society is closely linked to the level of language proficiency in the local language/s and also in English as the lingua franca of science, commerce, and entertainment. Yet, Russian often competes with the other languages and serves as a unifying factor for communities with a background in the former Soviet Union. In the present special issue, the authors combine sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology while analyzing the everyday verbal and cultural practices of Russian speakers abroad. Observations of communication in immigrant groups reveal the cultural potential of the speakers as reflected in their discourse. They demonstrate a variety of lifestyles and practices, but have a strong sense of cultural identity.

This paper describes a joint programme developed in 2018 by the University of Parma Language Centre (Italy) and the Humanities and Arts Department of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The aim of the project was to involve students of English for General Academic Purposes in delivering presentations to an unfamiliar foreign audience on a topic relevant to their academic interests. The students were required to prepare for the presentation by exploring and personalising the chosen topic so as to be able to explain it to a group which they had had no previous contact with or information about. Through the active involvement of the students in a realistic implementation of their prospective professional use of English, language learning became a holistic experience where a traditional approach to language learning focusing mainly on vocabulary and macro-skills was integrated with a pragmatic approach which addressed the so-called '21st-century skills' (specifically critical thinking, communication, collaboration and digital literacy). The simulation of situations that they are likely to encounter in their professional lives helped students build their confidence, with the whole learning experience carrying both emotional and social implications. This paper offers an insight into the challenges and issues which arose, and ideas for improving the learning experience. We describe the preparation carried out by the teachers at both universities, and the guided and autonomous work carried out by students in the different stages. A post-conference survey triggered the students' self-reflection in relation to learning and personal development. The survey was also valuable for the teachers regarding reassessment of teaching strategies and preparation for future joint projects.

Introduction: This research investigates resilience and lived experiences of transnational Russophone families amidst global changes, with a focus on the intricate dynamics of communities spread across borders. The study emphasizes the importance of considering individual migrant experiences in understanding language learning and integration. We explored perceptions of local language proficiency among Russophones; challenges faced by adult Russophones in learning a new language; attitudes and experiences of adults regarding language learning; and strategies Russophone immigrants use to address gaps in the target language. Methods: Methodologically, the research employs ethnographic and thematic analyses, drawing on a diverse array of sources including interviews, social media posts, and personal communications. This approach highlights the necessity of considering both prompted responses and spontaneous discussions to capture authentic opinions on language learning from various perspectives. Results: The study underscores the interconnectedness and interdependence within transnational families, illustrating how their lives are shaped by factors that transcend national boundaries. The examination of their diverse experiences reveals their capacity to endure and overcome challenges of integrating into new societies. Russophone migrants' attitudes toward language learning highlight how learning the host country's language enhances integration and social mobility, while maintaining the native language preserves cultural heritage, although second-generation immigrants often feel disconnected from their linguistic roots. Discussion: Studies by various authors discuss challenges which immigrants face when adapting to a new linguistic environment. This project emphasizes the impact of language learning on identity and reveals cultural flexibility in attaining social justice in multicultural contexts. These insights suggest that language programs and policies should address both the practical needs of immigrants and the preservation of their cultural identities taking into account their naïve views about language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine had a significant impact on the Russian-speaking identity, reformulating existing linguistic and cultural boundaries and shaping Russian speakers' self-perception and vision of the world. We focus on families with children who are trying to balance their inner and outer life in order to stabilize the positive environment of the upbringing process and analyze how adults explain to the children the need to learn the Russian, Ukrainian and other languages. This can shed light on the challenges and strategies employed in alleviating prejudiced attitudes against immigrants' languages and cultures which can cause alienation from the roots in the one-and-a-half and second generation. The research questions were: How has the war altered language policies in families with different ethnic backgrounds? What changes in home language use strategies do parents propose? Material and methods: Material drawn from numerous posts of Facebook discussions have been analyzed with the help of thematic analysis. Results and discussion: We observe that in many multilingual families with Ukrainian roots the war has led to a greater emphasis on the Ukrainian language use as an attempt to reinforce ties to their cultural heritage and express support for the country. Russian is increasingly viewed as the language of the aggressor; moreover, Russian culture is devalued and rejected. Some families have become more open to new language learning, especially the languages of their new environment, and try to identify themselves as multicultural and multiethnic personalities. On the other hand, in those families where parents work or study in the fields in which Russian is widely used, adults prioritize the development of Russian language skills in their children in order to improve their future educational and professional opportunities. We explore attitudes and challenges faced by parents in Russian-speaking families, as they demonstrate the complexities of identity formation and language transmission while making salient the interplay between parents' personal experiences, their aspirations for their children's cultural identity, and the pressures of integration into the local society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and expansion of the Russophone diaspora on all continents around the world has fostered the growth of the use of the Russian language as a means of transnational communication and mutual support, while locally, Russophones outside Russia utilize it to meet their needs, including in the spheres of business, education, and culture. Drawing on interviews, written materials, and recorded discussions, this article examines the introspective standpoints of mostly non-Russian speakers of this language across various domains. The research utilizes textual data from various sources and employs thematic analysis of the selected material. Findings indicate that the participants grapple with ambivalent sentiments, experiencing both discomfort and an appreciation of the linguistic values and practical benefits that Russian affords them. The Russophone diasporans now communicate in a manner likely to develop into a nonideological commodified vehicle of mutual comprehension, which functions in domains such as commerce, art, literature, science, and interethnic dialogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants often change their names to assimilate into a new culture, comply with local linguistic norms and simplify pronunciation for the hosts. Personal names serve as markers of ethnic affiliation, with name choices indicating levels of assimilation or preservation of identity. Gender disparities in name selection still exist, influenced by origin-specific factors and integration levels. Ethnically identifiable names can impact professional success, with assimilation playing a role in immigrants' achievements. While acculturative conservatism may favour mainstream names, ethnic names can foster social connections within immigrant communities. However, they may also lead to discrimination in broader society. This article aims to explore Russian-speaking immigrants' responses to name change opportunities and bilingual children's perceptions of name spelling in Finland and Israel. The findings highlight the challenges migrants face in assimilation due to societal perceptions, particularly evident in employment and educational contexts where unfamiliar names can lead to discrimination or integration difficulties. Despite international recognition of the right to pronounce names correctly, practical difficulties persist due to linguistic differences between native and host languages. Mechanisms of surname de-Russification involve simplification, translation, or adoption of culturally foreign names, representing a shift in original identities. While changing names may signal integration, the fairness and implications of this decision vary, with children often adapting better than adults to cultural hybridity and bilingual practices to which they are exposed from an early age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines personal narratives of immigrants to israel from the former Soviet Union. Interviews conducted in Russian reveal awareness that language is a status category and that the attitude towards minority languages is the Soviet Union has been transferred to the linguistic situation in Israel. In the situation of emerging bilingualism, immigrants separate domains in which they use different language sand assign different symbolic value to them. (Author/VWL)