BA History and Russian

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Russian Language 2

Course unit fact file
Unit code RUSS51022
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course is designed to follow on from RUSS51011. It develops students’ mastery of the grammatical foundations of Russian, which are essential for reading, writing and speaking well. It is intended to improve competence in written Russian by developing translation and composition skills and consolidating command of basic grammatical structures. Oral practice classes are designed to develop students’ ability to understand and speak Russian. Students are introduced to spoken Russian through role-play situations. This course unit enables students to achieve the equivalent of A-level standard by the end of the year.

Please note that this is a compulsory language unit and as such requires a pass mark of 40% or above. Those students who fail to achieve this mark at the first attempt must resit the course unit.  Students who fail this unit in the resit assessment will not be able to carry the credits into a subsequent year of study. Students will be able to discuss their options with the Programme Director and they may have the option to move on to the non-language degree award of Cultures and Societies.  If this option is approved, the resit mark can be compensated, or the student can carry the credit, provided they have met all the other requirements for progression.  Students who do not meet the required pass mark and do not move on to the non-language degree award will not be able to progress into the next year of the degree programme and will therefore be excluded.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Russian Language 1 RUSS51011 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

•    To focus on the basic principles of the Russian language.
•    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:

  • Appearance and personality. Health.
  • City. Transport.  
  • Travel. Countries. Weather.
  • Hobbies and Pastimes
  • Celebrations/Holidays. Gifts.
Grammar Topics:
  • Genitive, Dative and Instrumental Singular of nouns, modifiers, personal and possessive pronouns.
  • Nominative and Accusative Plural of animate nouns and modifiers, personal and possessive pronouns.
  • Genitive, Dative and Instrumental Plural of nouns, modifiers, personal and possessive pronouns.
  • Verbal aspect.
  • Relative pronouns
  • Prefixed and Unprefixed Verbs of Motion.
  • Modal constructions.
  • Adverbs.
  • Comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs.

Teaching and learning methods

Four hours of grammar and two hours of oral practice per week supplemented by independent study in the Language Centre, peer-assisted study (PASS) and a range of exercises delivered via Blackboard.

Extensive resources will be available on Blackboard. These will include copies of slides and handouts used in classes; required homework translation exercises; supplementary materials and on-line tests to aid students in preparing for assessment.

For each topic covered in class there are useful internet resources available for independent e-learning (on-line programs helping to develop oral/aural skills, grammar tests, reference grammar books, quizzes and games).

Knowledge and understanding

•    Handle fundamental grammatical structures (all declensions and cases [for nouns, adjectives, possessive and personal pronouns]; verbal aspect and verb tense; intransitive verbs of motion; comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs).
•    Translate accurately from and into Russian short passages of an appropriate level of difficulty.
•    Communicate orally on basic topics with a competent speaker of Russian (use basic spoken Russian to cope with real-life situations, such as family and relationships, hobbies, city life).
•    Develop oral/aural comprehension skills in Russian (understanding of basic recorded texts).
•    Read selected modern literary texts in Russian. 

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
Capacity for self-appraisal, reflection and time management.

Assessment methods

Assessment task  
Formative or Summative 
Weighting within unit (if summative)
Continuous assessment, consisting of two progress tests (one grammar, one vocabulary). Summative40% (20% each)
An oral examination, held at the end of Semester.Summative

20%

 

A written examination, held at the end of Semester. Summative40% 
Weekly grammar tests delivered via Blackboard FormativeThis 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 

A number of vocabulary tests delivered via Blackboard 
 
FormativeThis 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 the final oral exam at the end of the year, special feedback forms will be available for all students upon request.

Summative

 

 

 

 

 

Recommended reading

  • Anna Kudyma, Frank Miller, Olga Kagan Beginner's Russian with Interactive Online Workbook
  • James Levine, Schaum’s Outline of Russian Grammar (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009)
  • Terence Wade, A Comprehensive Russian Grammar (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000)
  • The Oxford Russian-English, English-Russian Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 66
Independent study hours
Independent study 134

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Elizaveta Langley Unit coordinator
Elena Simms Unit coordinator

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