Vocabulary selection criterion for the linguistic and regional minimum “St. Petersburg”

The problem of vocabulary selection criteria for the linguistic and regional minimum «St. Petersburg» for students of elementary level in Russian as a foreign language is considered. We propose the following selection criteria: obligatory, word frequency, currentness, representation in textbooks for Russian as a foreign language, study of lexicography, accounting knowledge and interest in foreign students. The method of selection includes the research of various sources, the analysis of vocabulary and compiling of linguistic and regional minimum.