Module 1 tour guiding techniques

Содержание

MODULE 1 TOUR GUIDING TECHNIQUES………………….	4
Unit 1 Tips for Tour Guiding ……………………………………….	4
Unit 2 Travel tips to visit Russia ……………………………………	19
MODULE 2 HIISTORY OF MOSCOW…………………………	33
Progress test 1 ……………………………………………………..	42
MODULE 3 MOSCOW ARCHITECTURE ……………………	46
MODULE 4 MOSCOW KREMLIN……………………………..	58
Unit 1 Historical Background……………………………………….	58
Unit 2 Inside the Kremlin……………………………………………	64
Unit 3 The Annunciation Cathedral…………………………………	75
Unit 4 The Assumption Cathedral…………………………………..	82
Unit 5 The Archangel Michael Cathedral…………………………..	87
Unit 6 The Grand Palace	95
Progress Test 2………………………………………………………	103
MODULE 5 MUSEUMS of MOSCOW …………………………	106
Unit 1 Introduction ………………………………………………….	106
Unit 2 The Tretyakov Gallery……………………………………….	113
Unit 3 The Pushkin Fine Arts Museum……………………………..	121
Unit 4 The Armoury Chamber………………………………………	139
Unit 5 The Diamond Treasure……………………………………….	153
Unit 6 History and Local History Museums…………………………	161
Progress Test 3 ……………………………………………………	168
Unit 7 Moscow Estates………………………………………………	170
Progress Test 4 ……………………………………………………	186
Additional exercises………………………………………………..	190
References……………………………………………………………	200

 

MODULE 1 TOUR GUIDING TECHNIQUES

Unit 1 Tips for Tour guiding

Unit 2 Travel tips to visit Russia

UNIT 1

Tips for Tour guiding

· How to become a good Guide! · Guides and Tours · Tips for Tour Guiding

How to become a good Guide!

Study the information and answer the questions.

Tips for Tour Guiding

Sightseeing tours

Sightseeing can be done in various ways. Travel companies offer both bus or coach sightseeing tours and walking tours. Aside from coaches, sightseeing tours can also take place on city trams or trolleys adding to the atmosphere of the tour, and even trains.

Escorted Tour

Escorted Tours are our most popular tourist product. Escorted tours are normally conducted by a tour director who takes care of all services from beginning to end of the tour. Escorted tours normally include flights, hotels, transportation, transfers to the airport/hotel, most meals and sightseeing. Escorted tours are conducted by motor-coach and usually no more than 2 nights are spent in each location visited.

Guided Tours

Guided Tours are somewhat similar to Escorted tours but passengers are greeted by a local representative rather than a Tour Director and will not be escorted to all activities and functions. Local guides will be available to answer questions through the duration of the tour. Some meals, accommodations and sightseeing may be included in your tour. This style is ideal for people who want some freedom but still have the comfort of a guide.

Questions

1. How can sightseeing be done?

2. What is the difference between an escorted tour and a guided tour?

3. Who takes care of all the services on an escorted tour?

4.  What do escorted tours normally include?

5. Who conducts a guided tour?

6. What may be included in a guided tour?

7. What kinds of tourists are guided tours ideal for?

A tour guide

A tour guide or tourist guide is a person who leads groups of people around a town, museum, or other tourist venue. The guide provides a commentary on the features and history of the location. Basically, a tour guide is someone who knows the best tourist places and the whole culture of a certain place. They know the in and out of the particular place that they are giving the tour of. Importance is placed on the guide’s knowledge of language, travel documentation requirements and cultural differences. The skills are: communication skills, customer service skills, foreign language, time management, organizational skills, problem solving, product knowledge, presentation skills, public speaking skills and leadership qualities: confident, friendly, polite and helpful, calm under pressure, physically fit, patient, trustworthy, responsible, ability to relate to a wide variety of people hope it helps to you.

The difference between a tour guide and a tour leader

A tour leader is someone accompanying the whole tour. He/she may not introduce the detailed sceneries or sights, but take general care of accommodation, transportation between locations and communication with tour guides in each stop. A tour guide usually refers to local tour guide, who guide in a specific location Responsible for arrangements in his city, i.e. meals, local transportation local hotel arrangement, city introduction, and on-site commentary, etc. For a package tour, tour leaders and tour guides are working together to ensure a great sightseeing experience of travelers. For independent travelers, tour guides and tour leaders usually refer to same responsibilities in the destination.

Questions

1. Who is a tour guide?

2. What are the job’s requirements for a tour guide?

3. What is the difference between a tour guide and a tour leader?

4. What is a tour leader responsible for?

Mind Road Safety

Transportation makes part of the sightseeing tours. Depending on the group size, it can be a private car, bus, or taxi. While the driver is responsible for safe driving, tour guides need to remind travelers of road safety.

A tour guide should remind passengers of the seat belt. After boarding the vehicle, a tour guide needs to inform clients where the seat belts are and ask them to put on the belt for safety reasons, especially when there are kids on the vehicle. When doing walking tours, tour guides also need to mind the traffic when crossing the street. Travelers are new to the destination. The traffic rules and customs can be very different. It is necessary for a tour guide to remind the tourists of road safety.

Questions

1. What kind of transportation is provided for guided tours?

2. What road safety rules should tour guides instruct travelers about?

3. Why is it important for a tour guide to remind tourists of road safety?

Questions

1. How do tour guides communicate with travelers before they arrive in their destination?

2. Why is it important to present the printed itinerary?

3. What information should it include?

Questions

1. What is a social responsibility of a tour guide?

2. In what way can a tour guide perform as a bridge between local people and foreign travelers?

Questions

1. What kinds of vehicles are usually pre-booked for guided tours?

2. What kind of transportation will do for individual travelers?

3. What should tour guides remember when communicating with tourists during the tour?

4. What personal safety precautions should tour guides take?

Questions

1. What are typical travelers’ expectations?

2. Why is it important for a tour guide to understand the tourists?

3. What kinds of tourists are usually interested in a private tour guide?

4. What things should a tour guide take into consideration when working with business travelers?

5. What should a tour guide remember when working with cruise passengers?

6. What kind of tour could be suitable for senior travelers?

Itinerary Preparation

Be familiar with the timetable and schedule. Tour guide is critical for both group travelers and individual clients. Make sure every detail is confirmed, what time, where to go and what to do. Confirm the site opening and closure, as they may change with summer/winter time, peak/low seasons, or holidays. Check if the activity is available, for they may cancel due to weather conditions.

Questions

1. In what way can a tour guide get prepared before a tour?

2. What pre-arrangements should be confirmed before the tour?

Material Preparation

   Travel is a way of consumption. The payments can be done by the tour guide or travelers according to your agreement. If a tour guide is required to pay for meals, accommodation, transportation, entertainment etc., do bring enough cash/money. Prepare for the vehicle if applicable. Confirm the vehicle condition and driver contacts. Also do not forget your guiding tools like tour guide certificate, microphone, and pick-up signs.

Knowledge Preparation

  Your knowledge of the guided area, on-the-way sceneries, anecdotes… is basic. Tour guides, of course, are not encyclopedia. But the more you know, the better experience you clients would receive. Tour guide belongs to the kind of career, requiring ongoing study and self-fulfillment. No matter you are a fresh guide, or a guide with 10-year-experience, you have to catch on with the new developments.

Psychological Preparation

Are you confident that you could satisfy your clients? They may have higher education, perhaps expert in certain industry, or with religion background … Do you have the confidence that clients of various types would be happy with your service? Well, do not panic. As mentioned before, tour guide are not encyclopedia. You don’t have to be more knowledge in all areas. Respect their knowledge or belief, and meanwhile, do your best to share the place you live and work. One way to help with your psychological preparation is to know about your clients beforehand - where they come from, what age they are, if any special needs on religion or foods, etc.

Questions

1. What material preparation should be done by a tour guide?

2. What knowledge is basic for a tour guide?

3. What is psychological preparation like?

Do not lecture

  Travelers are not students. All tour guides understand it. However, many guides tend to lecturing rather than guiding with their clients. You may be very knowledgeable of the place or scenic spot, so you work hard to speak out on every bit of information.

Wait a minute, can your clients receive all this information, or just half of it. Pay attention to the client’s reply, either emotional or verbal. Do not lecture to them.

Guide books, promotional booklets, or guiding machines can do the lecture much better, standard and accurate. The value of a personal tour guide is to lead align with the scenery and emotions. Moreover, excellent tour guide communicate with their clients actively. They reply to questions that clients ask, expand knowledge when clients show interest, and appreciate when clients express exclamation.

Questions

1. Why lecturing is not advisable in tour guiding?

2. How do good tour guides communicate with their clients?

Speak about tour guiding.

Perfect timing

Being a tour guide, the content of your sightseeing tour introduction is a kind of art. Is it accurate, vivid, humourous, easy to understand? That’s all important for the travelers with your group. There’s also one more critical thing – the time you deliver the words of wisdom to your clients. Timing can be positive as well as negative to what you say. Manage the art of timing marks your success on your sightseeing tours.

The basic rule is to comment when all clients can see you so you engage them in the conversation. Of course, a brief mention is necessary at the itinerary introduction. You may also do a pre-intro to arouse the interest of traveler. We suggest you save the best for on-the-spot commentary during the actual sightseeing tours. When people see in their own eyes, they will have a more vivid memory of what you said.

There are often sceneries or interesting things on the road if you are travelling with the client group. In this case, be prepared for it in advance and proactively point out the event before passing. Travelers may easily miss the scene as they are new in the location. By introducing it in advance, a tour guide has actually shown his knowledge of the place and familiarity with the route. However, don’t point out if you have already passed the site. Never say “we just passed … and it is …”, as you won’t turn around and the client will feel they missed something nice in your sightseeing tours.

Another timing management tip is the time on the coach, car, or any other vehicle. Know how long it takes from one stop to the next and prepare your length of talking in accordance. Avoid talking of the last item when you arrived at the next new destination. Also avoid long silence on the way but do give the clients a break from all your information and knowledge.

UNIT 2

Travel Tips to Visit Russia

Time

St. Petersburg and Moscow are GMT + 3 hours – so they are 3 hours ahead of London, 2 hours ahead of Berlin, 8 hours ahead of New York and 11 hours ahead of Los Angeles.

Telephone and Fax

You will see public payphones called “taksofon” on the streets in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The use of these requires a special pay phone card that can be bought at metro stations or in newspaper kiosks. From these payphones it is possible to make local, national and international phone calls. You can also make telephone calls at many post offices or telegraph centers. Most telephone centers and many post offices will also send faxes for you. Just go to the counter and ask. Calling Russia - 007 (Russia code) + area code (495 – Moscow, 812 – St. Petersburg) + phone number.

Cell Phones

Russia uses the GSM network so it is compatible for all of Europe but incompatible for cell phones from the USA. This makes communicating by cell phones for Europeans quite easy and communication by cell phones for Americans impossible! However, it is quite easy to purchase a cell phone at a reasonable price from one of the millions of mobile phone stores and payment centers that you can see all over the centers of any Russian city. Currently, you can buy a decent cell phone for the equivalent of $80 USD including a SIM card and connection to a local network.

Transportation

Transportation is quite well developed in big cities, but all information is written in Russian, so always take a map with you. Also, most public transportation can get quite crowded so always keep a tight hold onto your wallets or purses. Moreover, as with most crowd situations, you get pushed and pulled around quite a bit so be ready!

The Metro

St. Petersburg and Moscow have really great metro systems. It is funny, but in Russia where most things really don’t seem to work efficiently, the metro works great. Trains run every 2 minutes or so and the metro’s coverage is quite good.

Police

Once you arrive in Russia, always keep your documents with you but remember to keep them in a safe place (not your back pocket or back pack for example – the best option is in an inner pocket or front pocket). It is also a good idea to make photocopies of your documents just in case. Sometimes the police make spot checks on the street and they can ask to see your documents (passport and visa).

Russian Holidays

31st of December- 1 of January - New Year's Day
7th and 8th of January - Orthodox Christmas
23rd of February - Red Army Day
8th of March – International Women's Day
1st and 2nd of May - May Day
9th of May - Victory Day
12th of June - Independence Day
7th of November - Day of Reconciliation and Harmony
12th of December - Constitution Day

Tipping

Tipping an appropriate amount is customary at restaurants and bars but not anywhere close to the extent of how it is in the US. For example, you might want to leave a 200 roubles tip for a meal that cost 1500 roubles or a 70 roubles tip on something that cost 500. Generally, a tip is between 10% and a maximum 20%.

Health

No vaccinations are required for Russia. If you are concerned, get the Health Advice for travellers booklet by calling 0800 555 777. If you suffer from any medical condition, please ensure you take enough medication with you. Mosquitoes are common in the summer (especially in St. Petersburg) so take repellent with you. Emergency medical treatment is free in Russia but we suggest you take out UK medical insurance policy as well. Don’t forget to take the Emergency medical number with you. In St. Petersburg it is wise to avail drinking the tap water which contains nasty bugs.

Arriving in Russia

When your flight lands you need to proceed through passport control and Customs. After you pass through customs you will come out in to the main airport concourse where our drivers will be waiting with your names on a sign.

Passport Control

You will have to fill out a simple landing card which you get in the airport upon arrival or given to you on the plane. This is a simple form which you should fill in and sign. It’s just a formality.

Customs

Unless you are taking a huge amount of money, or some precious items or weapons etc in to Russia, just go through the green channel upon arrival. If you do have things to declare, sometimes you will be asked to fill in a Customs Declaration form (same on the way out). Although this is system is being phased out it is worth knowing you may have to fill one in.

Money/Eating Out

Russian currency – the rouble is made of 100 kopeks. The exchange rate of rouble to dollar and to euro changes on the daily basis. At the moment the best currency to take to Russia is the Euro. There are now widespread ATM machines in Moscow and St. Petersburg where you can take roubles or Euros or US Dollars. Nevertheless it is worth taking low denomination Euros for tourist purchases, etc. Exchange rate is around 50 roubles to the pound. Shops also accept credit cards (though not all of them) and you will have to exchange in to roubles to buy things in non credit card shops, bars or restaurants. Do not take traveller’s cheques as high commission charged and not every bank accepts them.

We often get asked how much money our customers should take to Russia for food which is a difficult question! A meal in McDonalds will cost about few pounds and in a decent restaurant budget for around 40-60 pounds per person including drinks.

Tipping is normal and 10% is recommended in restaurants. Our guides and drivers also will greatly appreciate tips the size of which is up to you. You will normally have one guide and driver in Moscow and another guide and driver in St.Petersburg on our Twin Centre tours. Please take very good condition banknotes as many exchange places do not accept torn or defaced notes.

Electricity

Voltage is 220V (AC), 50 Hz and the plugs are two pin continental style.

Safety

Contrary to media reports, Moscow and St. Petersburg are no more dangerous than any other large European city (in fact the locals are much friendlier than in most cities). The closest you will get to the mafia is seeing their Mercedes 600s stopped at the traffic lights. In certain parts you may see gypsy children asking for money - just give them a firm no and if they will leave you alone. You are always well looked after by our local guides! Driving in Russia is an art form and car rental is particularly unwise (unless you have experience of rally driving). Don’t forget the streets are wide in Russia on the whole and crossing is much easier by subterranean passage. If you make a run for it you are dicing with Mercedes 600s, trams and trolleybuses so beware! Don’t put your hands in your pockets in Rus­sian churches and dress appropriately e.g. ladies cover shoulders etc. As in any large cities, beware of pickpockets.

Project Work

4.   Make a poster with the criteria of an interesting guided tour and a good tour guide. Present your poster in front of the class.

Study the vocabulary.

1. travel agency	- туристское агентство
2. coach tour of Moscow	- автобусный тур по Москве
3. our tour covers all main sights	- наш тур охватывает все основные достопримечательности
4. masterpieces of Old Russian, classical and modern architecture	- шедевры старинной русской   классической и современной архитектуры
5. Convent	- женский монастырь
6. Monastery	- мужской монастырь
7. Observation Platform	- смотровая площадка
8. to get off	- выйти (из автобуса)
9. to get on	- войти (в автобус)
10. to take pictures	- фотографировать
11. to make pictures	- печатать фотографии

Words of introduction

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of … travel agency it gives me great pleasure to welcome you aboard our coach tour of Moscow.

First of all let me introduce myself. My name is … and I will be your local guide. I am here to make your tour as pleasant as possible and to provide you with some information about our city. After the tour I will be glad to answer your questions.

 Also I would like to introduce our driver, his name is …. And please remember our bus number, it is ….

Our tour covers all main sights and places of interest, including masterpieces of Old Russian classical and modern architecture, monuments to famous heroes, writers and scientists.

We will see the Kremlin wall and Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral; we will visit the Poklonnaya Hill War memorial and drive down Tverskaya Street – the main street of Moscow and along Moscow boulevards. I hope you will like the Novodevichy Convent. And on our way we will see many modern and interesting buildings and places such as Moscow University, the Central Stadium in Luzhniki, which hosted the 1980 summer Olympic Games, and one of the tallest structures in Moscow – the Ostankino TV tower (540 meters), enjoy the view of Moscow from the Observation Platform on the Sparrow Hills.

Our tour will last about 3 hours. There will be some stops for you to get off, take pictures and buy souvenirs.

Reminder for a tour guide

· Please, do not forget to greet your tourists.

· Introduce yourself (name/occupation: local guide, tour manager, assistant) and your driver.

· Please, name the bus number.

· Tell some words about the tour or about your program.

· Please, name the most important sights of your tour and describe them in brief.

· Name the most important stops on route.

· Tell your tourists how long the tour lasts.

Questions:

1. What words would you like to start your tour with?

2. Is it important to introduce your driver and name your bus number? Why?

3. What should we describe in brief?

4. Why is it interesting for tourists to visit observation platform?

5. What tall structures in Moscow do you know?

6. Are there any stops on route?

7. How long does the tour last?

8. When will you answer the tourist’s questions?

9. What souvenirs can tourists buy in Moscow? What can you recommend them?

Read and translate the text, consult a dictionary, make sure that you know all the words well. Try to memorize it. Make your own guide-interpreter’s dictionary; write out the most interesting words and expressions into it according to the categories: history, geography, sightseeing, religion, economy, science and architecture, social life, flora and fauna, military terms and unusual adjectives.

MOSCOW

Moscow is the inseparable part of the Russian life. Moscow’s history dates back to 1147 when Prince Yuri Dolgoruky established a small outpost on the banks of the Moskva River.

By the 15th century Moscow was Russia’s political, cultural and trade centre. During the reign of Ivan the Great it became the capital of the Russian Empire. Ivan invited the greatest Russian and European architects to create a capital so wondrous that “really embodied fantasy on an unearthly scale.” Soon the city was hailed as “New Constantinople”. In the next century Ivan the terrible was crowned the first tsar of all Russia in the magnificent Uspensky Cathedral. In the 18th century the foreign traveller wrote that Moscow, “so irregular, so extraordinary and so contrasted had never before claimed such astonishment!”

In 1712, after Peter the Great transferred the capital to St Petersburg, Moscow remained the symbol of national pride. Many eminent writers, scientists, artists and musicians, such as Pushkin, Tolstoy, Lermontov, Repin and Tchaikovsky lived and worked in Moscow, which never relinquished its political significance, artistic merit and nostalgic charm. Even when Napoleon invaded Moscow in 1812, he wrote: “I had no real conception of the grandeur of the city. It possessed fifty palaces of equal beauty to the Palais of Elysee.”

In 1918, after more than two centuries, Moscow once again became Russia’s capital.

Modern Moscow is the largest city in the country with a population over nine million. The Kremlin remains the seat of the government. Moscow is now the hub of an enterprising new metropolis. New business, coops, joint ventures are initiated daily. Democracy and capitalism have already made a great impression.

If a visitor has a few days or several weeks, there is always plenty to do and see. Moscow has over 2500 monuments, 50 theatres and concert halls, 4500 libraries, 125 cinemas and 70 museums. Moscow is also rich in history, art and agriculture. One of the most memorable experiences is to stand in Red square and look out on the golden magnificence of the cathedrals and towers of the Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral.

Other attractions include Novodevichy Convent, which dates back to 1514, St Andronik Monastery, which houses the Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Art. There are also fascinating side streets to explore.

Now at the beginning of the 21st century we are witnesses to Moscow renaissance. It is becoming an impressive, modern capital city in the European sense, while at the same time preserving its national and unique character and its unforgettable historical appearance.

Project Work

Do              Don’t

Prepare strong beginning and ending talk with your back to the tourists

 

13. Imagine that you are a tour guide and your classmates are tourists. Make  a presentation of your native city. Use the following useful phrases:

· That’s a good/difficult/complex question.

· Thank you for asking that question.

· I’m glad someone asked that question.

· It allows me to say…

· As I’ve said/explained earlier,

· I’ve already made it clear that…

· As I’ve mentioned before….

· That’s not really my area, I’m afraid.

· I don’t have figures with me.

· I’m afraid this question goes beyond the subject of our today’s tour

· I’d be glad to discuss that with you personally after our excursion.

· I accept that

· That’s a fair point.

· I agree with what you are saying.

· Up to the point I agree.

· Are you saying that…

· What did you mean when you said…

· Could you say a little bit more about…

· Could you go over that again, please? It wasn’t very clear for me.

 

 

MODULE 2 HISTORY OF MOSCOW

Study the vocabulary.

1. tribes	- племена
2. the oldest evidence of humans	- первое появление людей
3. feudal	- феодальный
4. situated at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River	- расположенный в устье реки Неглинки
5. when the Mongol Khanate of the Golden Horde burned the city to the ground and killed its inhabitants…	- когда воины Монгольского ханства Золотой орды сожгли город до основания и убили множество жителей…
6. Prince Dmitry Donskoy of Moscow led a united Russian army to an important victory over the Mongols in the Battle of Kulikovo.	- Московский князь Дмитрий Донской возглавил объединенную русскую армию для великой победы над монголами в битве на Куликовом поле.
7. Tatars from the Crimean Khanate seized and burned Moscow.	- Татарские воины из Крымского ханства                 захватили и сожгли Москву
8. Moscow suffered a great fire.	- Москва пережила великий пожар.
9. conducted by	- под руководством
10. elected Michael Romanov tsar	- избрал Михаила Романова царем
11. establishing the Romanov dynasty	- установление династии Романовых
12. During the Great Patriotic War the Soviet State Committee of Defense and the General Staff of the Red Army were located in Moscow.	- Во время Великой Отечественной войны Советский Государственный комитет обороны и Генеральный штаб Красной армии находились в Москве.
13. engineering regiments	- инженерные полки
14. medal “For the defense of Moscow”	- медаль “За оборону Москвы”
15. coup attempt	- государственный переворот

 

A Bit of History

The oldest evidence of humans on the territory of Moscow dates from the Stone Age (Schukinskaya Neolithic site on the Moscow River). Within the modern bounds of the city other late evidence was discovered (the burial ground of the Fatyanovskaya culture, the site of the early-Stone Age settlement of Dyakovskaya culture, on the territory of Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, the Setun River, Kuntsevskiy forest park, etc.

In the end of 1st millennium AD the territory of Moscow and the Moscow Oblast was inhabited by the Slavic tribes of Vyatichi and Krivichi. In the end of 11th century Moscow was a small town with the feudal center and trade suburb situated at the mouth of the Neglinnaya River.

Moscow was firstly mentioned in the chronicles in 1147 when it was an obscure town in a small province inhabited mostly by Merya, speakers of a now extinct Finnic language. In 1156, Knjaz Yury Dolgoruky built a wooden wall and a moat around the city. After the sacking of 1237-1238, when the Mongol Khanate of the Golden Horde burned the city to the ground and killed its inhabitants.

In 1300 Moscow was ruled by Daniil Aleksandrovich, the son of Alexander Nevsky and a member of the Rurik Dynasty. Its favorable position on the headwaters of the Volga River contributed to steady expansion. Moscow was also stable and prosperous for many years and attracted a large numbers of refugees from across Russia. By 1304, Yury of Moscow contested with Mikhail of Tver for the throne of the principality of Vladimir. Ivan I eventually defeated Tver to become the capital of Vladimir-Suzdal, and the sole collector of taxes for the Mongol rulers. By paying high tribute, Ivan won an important concession from the Khan. Unlike other principalities, Moscow was not divided among his sons but was passed intact to his eldest.

While Khan of the Golden Horde initially attempted to limit Moscow's influence, when the growth of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania began to threaten all of Russia, the Khan strengthened Moscow to counterbalance Lithuania, allowing it to become one of the most powerful cities in Russia. In 1380, prince Dmitry the Don (Donskoy) of Moscow led a united Russian army to an important victory over the Mongols in the Battle of Kulikovo. After that, Moscow took the leading role in liberating Russia from Mongol domination. In 1480, Ivan III had finally broken the Russians free from Tatar control and Moscow became the capital of an empire that would eventually encompass all of Russia and Siberia, and parts of many other lands.

In 1571 the Tatars from the Crimean Khanate seized and burned Moscow. From 1610 through 1612, troops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied Moscow, as its ruler Sigismund III tried to take the Russian throne. In 1611 Moscow suffered a great fire. In 1612, the people of Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities conducted by prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin rose against the Polish occupants, besieged the Kremlin and expelled them. In 1613, the Zemsky sobor elected Michael Romanov as a tsar, establishing the Romanov dynasty.

Moscow ceased to be Russia's capital when in 1703 Peter the Great constructed St. Petersburg on the Baltic coast. However coronation ceremonies were still held in Moscow and Moscow remained the very heart of Russia. That’s why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, the Moscovites burned the city and evacuated, as Napoleon's forces were approaching on September 14. The Napoleon's army, plagued by hunger, cold, and poor supply lines, was forced to retreat.

In January of 1905, the institution of the City Governor, or Mayor, was officially introduced in Moscow, and Alexander Adrianov became Moscow's first official mayor (the current mayor is Yuriy Luzhkov). Following the success of the Russian Revolution of 1917, Lenin, fearing possible foreign invasion, moved the capital from St. Petersburg back to Moscow on March 5, 1918.

In the beginning of 20th Century, several strikes and armed risings in Moscow paved the way to the October Revolution. In 1918 the Bolsheviks moved the seat of government from Saint Petersburg back to Moscow. During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet State Committee of Defense and the General Staff of the Red Army were located in Moscow. In 1941 16 divisions of the national volunteers (more than 160,000 people), 25 battalions (18,000 people) and 4 engineering regiments were formed among the Muscovites. In November 1941, Nazi Army Group Centre was stopped at the outskirts of the city and then driven off in the course of the Battle of Moscow. Many factories were evacuated, together with much of the government, and from October 20 the city was declared to be in a state of siege. Its remaining inhabitants built and manned antitank defenses, while the city was bombarded from the air. On May 1, 1944 a medal "For the defense of Moscow" and in 1947 another medal "In the memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow" were instituted. On May 8, 1965 due to the actual 20th anniversary of the victory in World War II Moscow was awarded the title of the Hero City.

In 1980 Moscow hosted the Summer Olympic Games and greeted sportsmen from all over the world.

In 1991 Moscow was the scene of a coup attempt by conservatives opposed to the liberal reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev. When the USSR was dissolved in the same year, Moscow became a capital of Russia. Since then, the emergence of a market economy in Moscow has produced an explosion of Western-style retailing, services, architecture and lifestyles. Now Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with great plans for the future.

3. Answer the following questions:

1. When was the oldest evidence of humans on the territory of Moscow?

2. What tribes lived there?

3. When Moscow was first mentioned in the chronicles?

4. Who inhabited ancient Moscow?

5. What can you say about population and total area of Moscow?

6. What is the official date of foundation of Moscow?

7. Why the 15^th century is very important period in the history of Moscow?

8. Was Moscow the capital of Russia from the 15^th century to the year 1712?

9. Why was the capital transferred to St. Petersburg?

10. What ceremonies took place in Moscow?

11. Why the city was the main target of the Napoleon’s attack?

12. Who and when was the first Mayor of Moscow?

13. When the capital was returned back?

14. What can you say about the role of Muscovites in the World War II?

15. What medals and orders were given to the Muscovites after the World War II?

16. What title was given to the city in 1965?

17. What political events could people see in Moscow in 1991?

18. What can you say about modern Moscow?

4. Translate the following word combinations:

Один из старейших городов, впервые упомянут в летописях, ров и деревянная стена, феодальный, Монгольское ханство, Золотая орда, сожгли город до основания, под руководством, установление династии Романовых,

Петр Великий построил Санкт-Петербург на балтийском побережье, коронации, вторжение армии Наполеона, в начале ХХ века, большевики перенесли столицу в Москву, инженерные полки, штаб Красной армии, медаль “За оборону Москвы”, государственный переворот, Москва принимала Олимпийские игры, государственный переворот, современный город с большими планами на будущее.

Progress Test 1

QUESTIONS

1. Who founded Moscow?

2. When did Moscow become the capital of the principality of Moscovia?

3. How was Moscow becoming the political and religious centre of Russia?

4. When did Moscow become the most powerful of the Rus­sian city-states?

5. Why was Moscow declared the Third Rome and true heir of Christianity in 1453?

6. Who was the first Tsar of All Russia?

7. Why did Moscow become the main target of Napoleon’s attack?

8. When had the city been completely restored after the great fire?

9. What is the population of the city now?

10. How many museums are there in Moscow?

 

 

Study the vocabulary.

1. bell tower	- колокольня
2. carpenter	- плотник
3. porch	- крыльцо
4. log-cabin	- изба
5. slender	- тонкий, стройный
6. lavish	- щедрый
7. splendour	- блеск, великолепие
8. graceful	- изящный
9. majestic	- величественный
10. visible 11. skill	- видимый - искусство, мастерство
12. gift	- дарование, талант
13. embroideries	- украшение
14. band	- зд. пояс, полоса
15. blind arch	- глухая (декоративная) арка
16. Cathedral of the Transfiguration	- Преображенский собор
17. Church of the Intercession	- церковь Покрова

Early Russian Architecture

Russian borrowed its early architecture, like its icon painting, from Byzantium. From the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries early towns were built on defensive sites on high river banks. From afar were visible low white walls with towers, churches with brilliant domes and bell towers. The finest examples of traditional architecture can be seen in the towns of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo and Sergiev Posad.

In Russia, timber has always been the most natural building material. Russian carpenters decorate the diverse structures they were building with beautiful carved decorations above windows and porches. One can see such decorations on log-cabins, fortress towers, huge cathedrals, churches and monasteries.

Wooden and masonry architecture developed side by side in medieval Russia, one stimulating and gratifying the love for verticality and slenderness, the other satisfying a yearning for massiveness, monumentality, and lavish decoration in the expression of power and splendour. The few remaining examples of the ancient wooden structures are now in Rostov and also in the museums of wooden buildings in Novgorod, Kostroma and Suzdal. These examples show the skill and gift of their builders to harmonize the building proper with the landscape.

The most majestic and famous examples of wooden church architecture may be found on the island of Kizhi in Lake Onega. Here you will be impressed by the grand and gracefully silhouetted multi-domed Cathedral of the Transfiguration and ten-domed Church of the Intercession with its bell tower.

Wooden architecture predominates in Northern Russia and in some of the older settlements and towns of the Siberia, such as Tyumen.

One of the best-known Russian churches in the northern style is the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (Pokrova na Nerli). Today it stands alone in the midst of green meadows, the small lake below reflecting its white walls and single dome.

This church is one of the most poetic creations of early Russian architecture which ever come down to us out of the past. The church is not large, and very simple in plan, with the cubical basic structure usual for the north. It is light and graceful, the structure as a whole seems hardly to touch the ground. Each facade is made up of three sections divided vertically by slender columns, and horizontally connected by a decorative band of blind arcading of the same white stone as the wall itself. As for the with long, narrow windows and small sculptured figures high up in the arch.

The builders of the most of Vladimir and Suzdal churches used cut stones instead of brick, typical for Byzantine and Kievan churches. Also they used stone embroideries, uncommon in Byzantium. They adopted the general features of the square plan, with three altar apses and the four columns supporting a flat cupola with its circular drum.

Stalin High-risers

Seven high-risers were built in the central part of Moscow the late 1940s - in the early 1950s. Later they derived their sonorous name ‘Seven sisters’. Their construction was associated with Stalin's idea to decorate the capital after the Victory in World War II and to demonstrate the power of Russia, on the threshold of the 800th anniversary of Moscow.

It was initially planned to build eight skyscrapers, but construction of the eighth building was stopped right after Stalin's death. Later, Hotel Russia was erected on the basement of uncompleted project. Eight buildings were aimed to epitomize Moscow’s age and to surround the Palace of Soviets that never reached the stage of construction.

For the history of Russia and Moscow, ‘Seven sisters’ became a symbol of monumental architecture of Stalin’s epoch, they are often named ‘a top of a Stalin empire style’ in a city architecture. Similar skyscrapers were built at the same time in Kiev, Warsaw and Riga. All of them were aimed to symbolise power and high aspirations of the Soviet state.

Certain symbolism was inherent to each separate building: the Moscow State University building symbolised power of the Soviet science, a building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - authority of the USSR, the building in Kotelnichesky street became a symbol theatrical and motion picture arts etc. Symbols of these high-risers have not lost the value today, as well as the status of their tenants has not changed: it still indicates belonging to high society.

The main building of Moscow State University, the highest of all skyscrapers, is located in the distance from the other high-risers, behind the Vorobyevy Hills. Over 240 meters high, it used to be the highest building in Moscow for quite a long period of time. Leningradskaya Hotel of 136 meters high is the lowest and the oldest out of ‘Seven sisters’. It was built in 1947 by the day of the 800th anniversary of Moscow.

The 29-storied Ukraine hotel is 170 meters high. It was built after Stalin’s death in 1953-1957 and is now known as Radisson Royal.

The building of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia was built in 1948-1953, and its height is 172 meters. The Ministry building is distinguished by the rich interior coating made of natural marble and granite. The coating also has wooden panels of oak and Karelian birch. The national emblem of the USSR established at height of 114 meters is another important distinctive feature of this high-riser. Also, this building does not have the star on its spike.

The rest of Stalin’s high-risers are residential. The 32-storied building on Kotelnicheskaya Street was built in 1938-1952. Today it has 700 apartments, a few shops, a cinema, etc.

The high-riser at the Red gates subway station is a little bit lower. It is called Red Gates Administrative Building, its right wing hosts one of the station’s lobbies. Another high-riser is a building on Kudrinskaya square, formerly known as a ‘high-riser at Vosstaniye square’. It consists of the central 22-storied, 156 meter high building and 18-storied side ones with 452 apartments. The side buildings form a harmonic connection with the surrounding structures.. It is necessary to notice that all seven high-risers were conceived as independent buildings with the closed household infrastructure: that is, they include cinemas, restaurants, shops, post and bank branches, and many other things.

Stalin high-risers are the present reflection of history of Russia in the middle of the 20th century, showcasing the greatness and indestructibility of the USSR. Today, all ‘Seven sisters’ can be seen only from Vorobyovy mountains. But it is much more interesting to stand in front of their facades when you can feel all their power and monumentalism.

Questions

1. Why did Stalin decide to build seven high risers?

2. How many skyscrapers were planned to build?

3. Why wasn’t the plan fulfilled?

4. What style of architecture do Seven Sisters symbolize?

5. What was special about each building?

6. What building is the highest?

7. What building was built after Stailin’s death?

8. What infrastructure were the buildings supposed to have?

9. Where can we see all high risers?

10. Why is it advisable to show 7 Sisters to tourists?

Melnikov House

At Krivoarbatsky Lane, in the central part of Moscow, there is a unique house built in 1927-1929, which became an architectural monument of the Soviet Avant-garde, famous throughout the world. This is a house and workshop of the famous Russian architect Konstantin Melnikov.

The idea of building of his own house appeared when he studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. But the real development of the project Melnikov began only in the early 1920s. The main condition was a connection of the house with a creative studio to live and work in one place.

One of the first projects was the construction of a classical square building. Then he made the drafts where the house was a truncated pyramid. In 1922, Melnikov drafted round, oval and egg-shaped plans. But the final version appeared after his club project, lost in the competition. By that project, the building consisted of five intersecting cylinders, and for his home-studio he left only two cylinders.

After some amendments to the project and official permission for the construction, in 1927 Melnikov began to build his own unique creation, which should house his family and the architectural workshop. It is worth noting the fact of the uniqueness of the construction of the house: while over the Soviet Union there were commune-houses, where one apartment housed 3-4 families, one person was allowed to build a private house in the heart of the capital. But it has a logical explanation: the house was endorsed as an experimental, one-of-a-kind project and Melnikov was one of the most recognized architects of the Soviet Union and he built it at his own expense.

source: academic.ru

The project was approved on June 19, 1927 and soon the construction began. Melnikov did not change the general structure of the house, but only finished the interior of the building. For example, in the course of solving some engineering problems concerning the construction of walls and floors he used original ideas, which were later patented as an invention in the technical architecture.

The architect worked out a unique system of brickwork. The towers, top to bottom, were a honeycomb lattice made of brickwork. 60 of more than 200 cells were glazed with windows (of three different frame designs), the rest filled with clay and scrap. Such kind of brickwork was not only economical, but also resulted in uniformly distributed wall load, as evidenced by the absence of any supporting pillars and lintels. Finally, the idea of a round building is very economical: he succeeded to obtain a large area of the premises with a smaller length of exterior walls.

Methods of honeycomb construction of the house echoed with the ideas of another famous architect Vladimir Shukhov (Shukhov Tower), who collaborated with Melnikov. Shukhov’s lattice structure was used not only in the brickwork, but also in the construction of floors. Floors consisted of wooden boards placed edgewise and intersected at right angles. It resulted in the absence of supporting columns or beams.

The house was a three-story building, the entrance to which was in the southern two-story cylinder. On the first floor there were a vestibule, kitchen, dining room, working rooms for his wife and children. The second floor in one cylinder featured a living room, and in another one a bedroom. The third floor consisted of a workshop of the architect and an outdoor terrace on the roof of the southern two-story cylinder.

During the 30-50s of the twentieth century the Melnikov House was repeatedly criticized. It has been criticized most recently, considering it obsolete and suitable for demolition. During the bombing of Moscow in the years of the Great Patriotic War, the building was not damaged except the windows broken out. But for 80 years, the building became dilapidated, and its technical condition is unsatisfactory: the walls are cracked, the floors sagged, the foundation sinks into the ground.

Recently, the Melnikov House-Studio was included in the list of endangered architectural sites. It is planned a large-scale reconstruction of the building to restore the original appearance, preserving the engineering and architectural ideas of Melnikov. However, there is a legal issue of ownership. In addition, it is still a dwelling house, nowadays Melnikov's granddaughter lives in it.

Now it is planned to establish a museum in this beautiful house of Russian avant-garde. Melnikov before his death also offered to turn his work into an architectural museum, but the Soviet Union of Architects refused him that time. However, this house was always a place of pilgrimage for many people: here came ordinary and outstanding people of art and culture. In 1933, the famous Russian artist and historian Igor Grabar, visiting the Melnikov House, said: "I do not envy, but leaving this house, I caught myself feeling jealous: I would like to live here”.

Questions

1. How did the idea of the building appear?

2. What are the main architectural features of the building?

3. Why was it allowed to build this house?

4. What are the unique things of the house?

5. How many floors are in the house? What is situated on the first and the second floor?

6. Was the house damaged during the II WW?

7. How is the house preserved? What is planned to do with the house?

8. Is it worth visiting the house with your tourists? Why?

Project Work

16. Find information about other architectural landmarks in Moscow which you would like to show to your tourists. Prepare a presentation about them. (Igumnov House, Perlov Tea Shop, Leningradsky Station etc.)

 

 

MODULE 4 MOSCOW KREMLIN

· Unit 1 The historical background · Unit 2 Inside the Kremlin · Unit 3 The Cathedral of the Annunciation

· Unit 4 The Cathedral of the Assumption · Unit 5 Archangel Michael Cathedral · Unit 6 The Grand Kremlin Palace · The Armoury Chamber

Study the vocabulary.

1. creation [ kr ɪ' e ɪʃ(ə) n ] genius ['ʤiːnɪəs] creation of genius	- произведение, создание - гений - гениальное произведение
2. craft [krɑːft]	- ремесло; профессия; ручной (кустарный) труд; требующая высокой квалификации
3. craftsmanship ['krɑːftsmənʃɪp]	- искусство, мастерство, умение; тонкая/искусная работа
4. mason ['meɪs(ə)n]	- каменотес, каменщик
5. smith [smɪθ]	- кузнец, рабочий по металлу
6. belfry ['belfrɪ]	- колокольня; башня, звонница, каланча
7. masterpiece ['mɑːstəpiːs]	- шедевр
8. inhabit [ɪn'hæbɪt]	- жить, обитать; населять, заселять
9. immemorial [ˌɪmɪ'mɔːrɪəl]	- давний, незапамятный, древний, старый
10. invade [ɪn'veɪd]	- вторгаться, нападать; захватывать, занимать, оккупировать
11. reign [ re ɪ n ] (over)	- царствовать
12. launch [ l ɔː n ʧ]	- запускать (проект)
13. fortress [' f ɔː tr ə s ]	- крепость
14. stronghold [' str ɔŋ h ə uld ]	- крепость, твердыня, цитадель
15. suffer [' s ʌ f ə]	- страдать; испытывать, претерпевать
16. revenge [ r ɪ' ven ʤ]	- месть, мщение
17. five-pointed	- пятиконечный
18. cobbled street	- булыжная мостовая

 

How thick were they?

Unit 2 Inside the Kremlin

Study the vocabulary.

1. to squeeze [skwiːz] in	- втискивать; впихивать
2. forbidden [ f ə' b ɪ d (ə) n ]	- запретный; запрещенный
3. to house	- размещать, помещать
4. to guard [ g ɑː d ]	- охранять
5. a cannon [' k æ n ə n ]	- пушка
6. to blow up [ ʹ bləʋ ʹʌ p]	- взрывать(ся)
7. marvellous ['mɑːv(ə)ləs]	- изумительный, удивительный, чудесный
8. cracked [ kr æ kt ]	- треснувший, надломившийся; потрескавшийся
9. to erect [ɪ' rekt ]	- сооружать; устанавливать; возводить, строить (здание); воздвигать;
10. a watchtower [' w ɔʧˌ tau ə]	- сторожевая башня; наблюдательный пункт
11. burial [' ber ɪə l ]	- погребальный
12. a dome [ d ə um ]	- купол; верх, верхушка
13. The Annunciation [əˌnʌn(t)sɪ'eɪʃ(ə)n] Cathedral	- Благовещенский Собор
14. divorce	- развод
15. to excommunicate [ˌ eksk ə' mju ː n ɪ ke ɪ t ]	- отлучать от церкви
16. The Palace of Facets	- Грановитая палата
17. The Assumption [ə'sʌmpʃ(ə)n] Cathedral	- Успенский Собор
18. shrine [ʃraɪn]	- гробница, усыпальница
19. to crown [ kraun }	- короновать
20. a jewel ['ʤ u ːə l ]	- сокровище прям. и перен.; бриллиант; золото (о человеке); драгоценность
21. a gem [ʤ em ]	- драгоценный камень, самоцвет; драгоценность
22. The Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Holy Virgin	- Церковь Ризположения
23. spiritual [' sp ɪ r ɪʧ u ə l ]	- духовный
24. The Armoury Chamber	- Оружейная палата
25. significance [ s ɪ g ' n ɪ f ɪ k ə n (t) s ]	- значение,важность
26. overwhelming [ˌə uv ə' welm ɪŋ]	- огромное, несметное
27. orb [ɔː b ]	- держава (з