BA Russian and Spanish

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Russian Language 4

Course unit fact file
Unit code RUSS51040
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course unit consolidates knowledge of the fundamentals of Russian grammar (such as case and aspect); considers more advanced issues (such as gerunds and participles); develops the active command of spoken Russian. Classes are complemented by a range of independent language learning activities delivered via Blackboard.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Russian Language 3 RUSS51030 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Russian Language 3 RUSS51030 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Pre-requisite RUSS20010

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

Aims

•    To attract students who will benefit from studying a modern foreign language.
•    To prepare students for their   period of residence abroad in Russia.
•    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

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students will be able to:
•    Handle grammatical structures appropriate to the level of study (formation and usage of gerunds [verbal adverbs]; formation and usage of active and passive participles [verbal adjectives]; short-form participles and adjectives; numbers; impersonal constructions)
•    Read and translate authentic Russian-language texts on topics such as the mass media; the Russian government and Russian politics; and economics and business.
•    Communicate in written form and orally on a range of complex topics (such as the Russian mass media, Russians today and everyday life in Russia, politics and business).

Intellectual skills

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

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) 

Continuous assessment of class work, consisting of¿¿ two¿in-class grammar Progress¿¿ tests (one in each Semester); 

Summative  

 

20% (10% each) 

Continuous assessment in oral classes, consisting¿¿ of two Progress Tests (one¿¿ in each Semester);¿¿ 

Summative 

 

20% (10% each) 

Oral examinations, held at the end of each Semester 

 

Summative  

 

60% (30% each)  

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 

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 the oral exams at the end of  each semester , special feedback forms will be available for all students upon request. 

 

Summative  

 

Recommended reading

  1. Elena Simms, Tatiana Romanova "Russian in a Contemporary World" A Textbook for Intermediate Russian (Routledge, 2019)

Reference Grammars:

  1. Derek Offord, Modern Russian: An Advanced Grammar Course (London: Bristol Classical Press, 1997)
  2. Terence Wade, A Comprehensive Russian Grammar (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000)
  3. Dual-Language Dictionaries:
  4. The Oxford Russian-English, English-Russian Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)
  5. E. M. Mednikova & Iu. D. Apresian (eds.), New English-Russian Dictionary (Moscow: Russkii Iazyk Publishers, 1993)
  6. Single-Language Dictionaries:
  7. S. Ozhegov, Slovar’ russkogo iazyka (Moscow: Russkii Iazyk Publishers, 2000)

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 132
Independent study hours
Independent study 68

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Elena Simms Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Scheduled activity hours include 

Grammar Classes: 44.0
Oral seminars: 88.0

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