Nachalo is a 2 volume text, designed to correspond to the typical grammar syllabus covered in the first 2 years of beginning Russian. In Nachalo, grammar is treated functionally and grows directly from the story line.

The text always presents grammar in context, focusing on how grammar is used and what it does, rather than on learning grammar for grammar's sake. In addition, Nachalo does an unusually good job of spiraling the grammar throughout the text to ensure that students retain what they have already learned.

The enjoyable story line in Nachalo involves the lives of an American student, Jim, who is studying in Russia, and his Russian friends. The story is presented in the form of dialogues or readings in each chapter, and exposes students to an abundance of authentic language in a cultural setting that is unmatched in other Russian textbooks. In addition, the story line provides interesting characters and topics that students will want to talk about in class.

The Video to accompany Nachalo, shot on location in Moscow with professional Russian actors, is unique to beginning Russian books. At least one episode per chapter of the story line is on the video, giving students the opportunity to see and hear a significant portion of the story line. In addition, short of taking them there, video offers students the best way to see and to get a vivid sense of what Russia is like today. The Video Guide for instructors and students offers a wealth of suggestions for implementation in the classroom.

The practice material in Nachalo ranges from mechanical to interactive. The exercises, which progress from controlled and focused to communicative and open-ended, allow students to practice Russian grammar in such traditional formats as fill-in-the-blanks, completions, and translations, as well as in more communicative settings like small group and partner-pair work.

This text has the most complete support package of any beginning Russian text currently available, including: the new text-specific Website and Student CD-ROM, an Annotated Teacher's Edition, a combined Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, Student Audiocassette Tapes or CDs, a complete Language Lab Audio Cassette or CD Program, the text-specific Video, and more.