Advanced English studies in Moscow during the 1970s and 80s (161)

Jan 30, 2021

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Vadim was at school in Moscow during the 1970s and 80s. He attended an Advanced English Studies School where all subjects were taught, however the focus was on English.

He provides us with insights into the setup of Soviet education as well as the school life, teaching methods and pop culture.

We hear how the British newspaper “Morning Star” was a key teaching aid for Soviet English students.

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Peter Ryan conducts the interview for us and I am delighted to welcome Vadim to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode161/

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0:00 Introduction and Vadim's education in the Soviet Union

2:08 Interview with Vadim begins

7:26 The impact of usage on language proficiency and importance of language education in the Soviet Union

10:19 Influence and censorship of Western music and pop culture in the Soviet Union

18:21 Exposure to Western broadcasts: BBC, Radio Free Europe, and Voice of America

20:48 Access to English language literature in the Soviet Union

30:10 Censorship and perception of English-language movies

32:10 Interactions with native English speakers and international visitors at school

43:15 Communist ideology in Soviet Education

47:20 Shift in English education after Glasnost and Perestroika

49:02 Special thanks to Patreons

49:51 How to support Cold War Conversations podcast

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