In this paper the author analyzes the «Russian world» concept which has become a stable term in Russia as well as around the world; the analysis of the concept is accompanied by teaching the Russian language to foreign students. The author describes how foreign students can use knowledge of the Russian world traditions during their stay in Russia while learning the Russian language. The author also explains why the concept of the Russian world should be written without quotation marks. Ideological postulates are being assessed critically. A new approach to the Russian world concept is offered taking into account historical and philosophical consequences. The author of the paper interprets the main sense of the concept for studying the Russian world traditions by foreign students who learn the Russian language. The aim of the paper is to develop sociocultural competence with the help of an adequate interpretation of the Russian world concept to foreign students who learn the Russian language. The author considers that a teacher (an instructor) is responsible for correctness and completeness of the information given to students. Hence teaching foreign students depends on teachers’ (instructors’) ideology, knowledge and methods of teaching. According to the author it is especially important to study the offered subject at present.