Getting Information from Russian-Language Internet Sites by Chinese Students Studying at Saint Petersburg State University

Abstract

This article is devoted to the research of the need of Chinese students studying at different faculties of St. Petersburg State University in obtaining information from the Russian-language Internet sites. The research method is a survey through the Google Forms website. The study showed that Chinese students in Russia receive information about the world mainly from the Internet sources. Almost all students turn to Russian-language sites for information, and more than two thirds do it frequently. The study made it possible to identify goals and reasons for access to the Russian-language Internet sites, names of popular sites, issues of concern and difficulties that students experience in reading Internet texts. The paper concludes that the Russianlanguage Internet is of a great importance in the life of Chinese students in Russia. Teachers of the Russian language should use it more actively as a tool of teaching the language and take into account special features of Internet texts when making teaching aids, as well as particular aspects of perception of information from Internet sites when teaching reading and listening to foreign students. Keywords-information needs, Chinese students, Russianlanguage internet sites, Saint Petersburg State University, survey