The article analyzes the current situation in the sphere of teaching Russian as a native, non-native and foreign language, points to the tendency to blur the boundaries of the methods of teaching, to casts doubt on the expediency of separate methods of teaching Russian as a non-native language, considers the problems of teaching Russian as a non-native language in the Russian-speaking environment and the problems of teaching Russian as a native language. The authors suggest the need to create a syncretic method of teaching the Russian language, able to respond to the challenges of our time.