BA Russian and Spanish

Year of entry: 2024

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Course unit details:
Russian Language 5

Course unit fact file
Unit code	RUSS51050
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 3
Teaching period(s)	Full year
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

This course aims to develop competence and accuracy in written and spoken Russian; to further reading, writing and translation skills; to consolidate knowledge of Russian grammar and to consider more advanced grammatical issues; and to increase awareness of current Russian usage in a variety of stylistic registers.

Pre/co-requisites

Pre-requisite : Completion of year abroad or permission of course leader.

Not available as a free choice unit. If the level is appropriate, however, the convenor may admit an external student.

Aims

•   To further develop students’ linguistic skills after their period of residence abroad in Russia.
•   To focus on both Russian language and the contemporary Russian cultural and social context.
•   To widen participation within the body of students studying Russian.
•   To contribute to society through the development of knowledge about different cultural customs and traditions and multiculturalism.

Syllabus

Content:

Oral Topics :

During oral classes students will speak about social and political issues in modern Russia. They will discuss youth in Russia and Britain, will compare different educational systems, will become familiar with the countries’ demographic situation and will learn about Russian attitudes toward ecological problems.

Grammar Revision:

Passive and Active Voice.
Sequence of tenses.
Participles.
Word order.
Infinitive Construction.
English Gerund.

Teaching and learning methods

Translation and writing skills will be developed with the help of regular homework assignments, some of which do not count towards the final course mark but will help students to gauge their progress in preparation for summative assessment.

Oral/aural skills will be developed through a parallel series of practical classes and work assignments to be undertaken by students in their own time in the Language Centre.

Extensive resources will be available via Blackboard. These will include copies of handouts and PowerPoint presentations used in class; required homework exercises; links to online language learning and translation resources and to required and recommended readings (where appropriate).

Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
•   Handle grammatical structures appropriate to the level of study;
•   Apply advanced comprehension and translation skills to a variety of texts/grammatical points
•   Communicate in written form and orally on a variety of topics

Intellectual skills

During this course students will deal with:
•   Problem solving.
•   Synthesis and analysis of data and information.
•   Critical reflection and evaluation.
•   Translation.

Practical skills

During this course students will be able to:
•   Use library, electronic and online resources.
•   Improve communication and negotiation skills.
•   Speak, read and write in Russian.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will be able to improve their:
•   Computer Literacy.
•   Teamwork.
•   Time Management.

Employability skills

Analytical skills: Capacity to analyse and make critical judgements.
Innovation/creativity: Ability to maintain independence of thought.
Oral communication: Ability to speak a modern foreign language. Ability to express ideas clearly and confidently in public.
Written communication: Ability to express oneself clearly in writing.
Other: Ability to maintain independence of thought. Ability to use discipline-specific knowledge (language, culture, traditions and customs) in everyday situations and to become a valuable member of multicultural team /society

Assessment methods

Assessment Task	Formative or Summative	Weighting within unit (if summative)
Two in-class written tests (one in each Semester)	Summative	20% (10% each)
Two oral examinations, held at the end of each semester.	Summative	40% (20% each)
One written exam, held at the end of Semester 2.	Summative	40%
Students will be expected to submit a piece of work as requested by their tutor every week.	Formative	This coursework is formative and it does not count towards the final course result. However, it is essential to do it consistently in order to gradually get the necessary preparation for the final exam

Resit Assessment:

Oral Exam

Written Exam

Feedback methods

Feedback method	Formative or Summative
In-class tests will be marked within a week. All individual comments and feedback will be written on a special feedback form; if required, guidance on how to improve performance in further assessments will also be provided on this form. Generic feedback to the whole class will be also given during the lesson following the in-class test.	Summative
Oral classes: students will receive oral feedback during oral sessions as well as written comments on their prepared written topics.	Formative
After each oral exam the final written exam at the end of the year, special feedback forms will be available for all students upon request.	Summative

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars	44

Independent study hours
Independent study	156

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Elizaveta Langley	Unit coordinator

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