The article describes the contents of a corrective course on Russian as a foreign language, focused on the formation of substantive and instrumental competencies: linguistic, linguo-sociocultural, ethno-cultural and interpersonal. The author substantiates the purpose and objectives of the course, describes its structure, and offers forms of program implementation and forms of control. The article lists the types of skills and abilities that should be formed in students in all types of speech activity: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The understanding of limited sphere of the use of Russian language by working foreign migrants conditioned practice-oriented minimization of contents. According to the author, in teaching the Russian language to foreign migrants coming to work in Russia, it is necessary to pay attention to stimulation of aspiration to the reflection and self-reflection for the purpose of the choice of the optimum way to receiving information in the systematized form taking into account the channel of its receipt, the interlocutor and a situation of communication. The author concludes that during the practical mastery of the program of corrective course foreign students will be able to effectively use the acquired knowledge and skills in the new system of social norms and values. The developed program can be used in educational institutions that provide language training for migrants working in Russian Federation.