You should work on a PC with a Web browser. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explore work the best with these materials.

You can use these materials in two ways:

1. by connecting to the Russian Skits URL site . If you choose this option, you can choose to view the video clip using QuickTime or Real Player. If you are working on a PC connected to the Penn Network or if you have a digital cable connection at home, you should download the QuickTime version of the video onto your computer and view it from there. If these conditions do not apply, then use the Real Player version. Real Player is the inferior of the two (there is often interference in the streamlining as you are viewing), but it is the only feasible option if you are working at home with a regular telephone connection.

2. By opening the materials on your CD. This option is the best one if you are at home and working on a computer that is not connected to the Penn network.

You will need to use a PC with the following programs and fonts/keyboard installed. If you do not already have them installed, just click on the link to be connected with a site from which you can download these tools.

1. First, you need Quicktime 4. Install Quicktime 4 Pro Here

a. If you are working on-line and not on a Penn Network computer, you need Real Player. Download Real Player Here

2. In order to read the “Russian Skits” pages and to write the exercises, you will need to install Multilingual Support and a Keyboard layout for windows 95/98/ME.

Installation procedure for Multilingual Support for Windows 95/98/ME.

a. From the Control Panel select Add/Remove Programs.
b. Click Multilanguage Support, and then click Details.
c. Put a check mark beside the Cyrillic language.
d. Click OK, and then click OK again.
e. The changes will take effect after your computer restarts.

Installation procedure for Russian Keyboard Layout.

a. From the Control Panel select Keyboard
b. Select Language, and then click Add.
c. Select Russian in the drop-down menu.
d. Make sure Enable Indicator On Taskbar is checked.
e. Download the following file into your "windows\system" folder. When prompted whether to replace or not, choose YES. The file is here. This step provides a phonetic keyboard layout.
f. The changes will take effect after your computer restarts.

You can now type in Russian by switching the language to Russian using the Language Indicator on the Taskbar.

Installation procedure for Multilingual Support for Windows 2000.

a. Open "Regional Options" in "Control Panel".
b. In the "Language Settings for the system" put a check next to "Cyrillic" and click "OK". You might be prompted for Windows 2000 CD-ROM. If you are, click "OK" in the "Insert Disk" window dialog.
c. You will be asked to restart. Choose "YES" when the appropriate windows pops up.

Installation procedure for Russian Keyboard Layout.

a. After the systems restarts open "Regional Options" in "Control Panel" and click on "Input Locales" tab. You need to take the Win2k CD-ROM out now.
b. Click "ADD" in the "Installed input locales" section. "Add Input Locale" window pops up.
c. In that window choose "Russian" in the "input locale" menu and "Russian(Typewriter)" in the "Keyboard Layout/IME" menu. After this is done, click "OK".
d. Put a check next to "Enable indicator on a taskbar". Then click "OK" one more time.
e. Open "Folder Options" in "Control Panel" and click on the "View" tab.
f. In the "Advance settings" click on "Show hidden files and folder". Then uncheck "Hide protected operating system files(Recommended)" and then click "OK"
g. Download the following file into your "winnt\system32\dllcache" folder. When prompted whether to replace or not, choose YES. The file is here.
h. Download the following file into your "winnt\system32" folder. When prompted whether to replace or not, choose YES. The file is here. This step provides a phonetic keyboard layout.
i. In a few seconds "Windows File Protection" window will pop up. Click "Cancel" in that window and "Yes" on the next window that will pop up.
j. The changes will take effect after your computer restarts.

You can now type in Russian by switching the language to Russian using the Language Indicator on the Taskbar.

Installation procedure for Multilingual Support for Windows XP.

1. In the CONTROL PANEL find REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS
and go into the LANGUAGE tab.
2. In that tab you need to hit the DETAILS button.
3. Go to the ADD button and find the RUSSIAN option under
The top menu and then chose RUSSIAN (TYPEWRITER) in the
bottom menu.
4. Then click the OK button to exit the menu.
5. Now, in any windows folder go the the TOOLs tab and go
down to the FOLDER OPTIONS.
6. In the VIEW tab In the "Advance settings" click on
"Show hidden files and folder". Then uncheck "Hide
protected operating system files(Recommended)" and then
click "OK"
7. Now proceed with steps G through J from the Windows 2000 instructions above.

A Note About Cyrillic Keyboards: Cyrillic keyboards for PC are available in two kinds of layouts: the Russian keyboard and the phonetic or homophonic keyboard. You want to use the phonetic keyboard layout, because it is much easier to learn how to type in Russian using this layout. If you type out all the keys on your keyboard, you will see that most cyrillic letters in the phonetic cyrillic layout basically correspond to the English letter closest in sound. However, you will find a small number of cyrillic letters to be assigned random keys on the US keyboard (for example the Russian “sh” corresponds to the “W” key; the Russian soft sign corresponds to the ";" key). Practise a little to get acquainted with the layout of the cyrillic. You will be typing like a secretary in no time !