Developing productive language skills using phraseological units in a Russian as a Foreign Language course (level B1)

The research aims to develop and systematize practical recommendations for designing exercises to foster productive language skills (speaking and writing) based on phraseological units (PUs) for learners of Russian as a Foreign Language at the B1 level. The article examines methodological techniques for developing speaking and writing skills using phraseological units and presents an exercise system designed for the gradual formation of the ability to use idioms in dialogic, monologic, and written speech. This system includes three interconnected blocks of exercises built upon the classical methodological principles of communicativeness, situationality, and a step-by-step approach. The novelty of the research lies in its comprehensive, phased approach to integrating phraseology specifically into the formation of productive speech skills (dialogue, monologue, and writing), while accounting for the specific difficulties encountered at the B1 level. This approach helps bridge the gap between the receptive recognition of PUs and their active, correct usage. The study establishes that the primary challenges in using PUs at the B1 level are complex, involving linguistic, psychological, and cognitive barriers that are particularly evident in spontaneous oral and analytical written speech. It is demonstrated that these difficulties can be overcome through a specially organized exercise system comprising three interconnected blocks: 1) development of dialogic speech through recognition, substitution, and role-play modeling; 2) development of monologic speech through the construction of coherent utterances using PUs as semantic and emotional anchors; 3) development of written speech by embedding PUs into structured texts of various genres followed by editing. The proposed system ensures a transition from the recognition of PUs to their fluent and appropriate use in speech.