The current article illustrates factors that impact the results of teaching Russian as a foreign language in general education schools. Traditions and innovations in educational process are briefly described. The article then goes on to address the lack of fundamental research on history of methodology of teaching the Russian language. Transition of methodical science to new conditions is spotlighted. The article provides a list of prospective НамДУ илмий ахборотномаси - Научный вестник НамГУ 2019 йил 1-сон 232 directions that require close attention, study, generalization and introduction into the practice of teaching the Russian language