Russian

The course introduces students to three or more works of pre-20th-century literature and culture to be read in Russian, while improving reading and comprehension skills. It includes a combination of canonical and non-canonical texts by women and men, and explores the cultural and institutional contexts in which texts were produced, published, read, or viewed. Students share impressions through class and online discussions, and informal presentations. Students must have passed 1st year Russian, or equivalent for visiting students.

This course develops beginner to intermediate Russian language skills in a dynamic and communicative way. The course develops all four language skills (i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing) through individual and group work, topical discussions, and authentic and web-based multi-media materials. The focus is on accuracy as well as communication that advance students’ language competence, transferable skills, and cultural awareness.

This course develops instrumental skills in the Russian language up to the A2 level. It focuses on the basics of applied Russian grammar especially related to verbs, describing the phonetic, grammatical, and lexical structures of Russian, and understanding and producing oral and written work. The course covers morphology and syntax; lexical topics; and vocabulary.

This intermediate A2 level Russian language course focuses on the four skills of listening comprehension, spoken expression, reading comprehension, and written expression to enable students to use documentation in Russian and to practice the language in a non-specialized context. The listening comprehension section focuses on understanding sentences in simple, everyday situations and following short conversations on familiar topics. The spoken expression section allows for conversation in practical, simple, and predictable situations; holding a simple conversation; and summarizing a text. The reading comprehension section practices reading texts fluently and understanding the familiar elements. Finally, the written expression section provides an opportunity to compose a story. Some sessions may be devoted to Russian culture and civilization. In addition to the textbook, the course utilizes extracts from newspapers and other news media. The grammar and vocabulary learned enable students to form a descriptive and explanatory level of speech.

This course examines the structure of the Russian language in phonetic and phonological aspects and focuses on the relationship between spelling, sound, and the other aspects of linguistic analysis. The course covers Russian vowel and consonant systems, the phonological system and morphology, the relationship between phonetics and spelling, phonetic transcription, the intonation system, and practical phonetics and orthoepy.

Russian III is a year-long course for the students who finished Russian II. During the second semester of the course, the class will practice conversational Russian, which is used in daily settings for discussion of news, lifestyle, etc.

Methods of instruction focus on developing functional competence in Russian listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Every topic is built around forming communicative skills and includes new vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, and writing exercises.

Also, students will learn more about Russian daily culture and some useful idiomatic expressions and modern slang. 

This course develops instrumental skills in the Russian language up to the B1-B2 levels. It focuses on understanding and producing oral and written work; describing the phonetic, grammatical, and lexical structures of the Russian language; and identifying and using different linguistic registers. The course covers lexical topics and debate; advanced grammar-- derivation, morphology, and syntax; oral and written expression; and reading and listening comprehension.

Russian B1 plus is suitable for people with intermediate knowledge of Russian (B1minus level). Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with the teacher. 

This course introduces students to the study of Russia from a variety of different perspectives (e.g. historical, cultural, social and political). The course is structured around a series of pivotal events that have shaped Russia’s development from the reign of Peter the Great (1682-1725) to the reign of Nicholas II (1894-1917). Each event is examined in its appropriate historical context, through documentary evidence, cultural artefacts and contemporary debates, as well as through scholarly works.