BA Politics and Russian / Course details

This course unit aims to develop students’ knowledge of Russian grammar, syntax and vocabulary and to develop students’ active command of spoken Russian. Oral/aural skills will be further developed through a parallel series of practical classes and work assignments to be undertaken by students in their own time in the Language Centre.

Pre-requisite units

A- Level or equivalent in Russian.

 

• To broaden students’ knowledge of and mastery of the principles of the Russian language
• To help students develop competence in spoken and written Russian beyond A-Level standard
• To extend students’ knowledge of Russian culture and society by acquainting them with different Russian cultural customs and traditions

Content:

Oral Topics:

• Biography. Personal information. CV
• Travelling around. Vacation. Transport.
• Daily routine and time management.
• Food. Healthy lifestyle.
• More about shopping.
• Education. Work. 
• Entertainment. Theatre, Movies, Holidays.

Grammar Topics:

• Verbal aspect (in past, present and future; in the imperative; verbal aspect with negation; verbal aspect in the infinitive).
• Verbs of motion with and without prefixes; verbs of motion with spatial and non-spatial meaning.
• Conditional mood.
• Direct and Indirect Speech.
• Particles.

Teaching and learning methods

Three hours per week in Semester 1 and  four hours in Semester 2, supplemented by independent study in the Language Centre and a range of exercises delivered via Blackboard.

There is a wide range of eLearning resources available for this course unit on Blackboard, including prepared and systematized information about most essential Russian grammar topics, a large collection of on-line tests and self-check tasks, YouTube-hosted Russian cartoons as well as vocabulary lists.

For each topic covered in class there are also 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 grammatical structures appropriate to level of study
• Communicate in written form and orally on complex topics (e.g. to take part in discussion covering a range of issues such as leisure and travel, relationships and family, life in the city, transport and environmental issues)
• Possess comprehension skills as an integral part of effective communication (e.g. to understand brief news items on TV and short literary texts)

Intellectual skills

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Synthesis and analysis of data and information
• Critical reflection and evaluation
• Translation

Practical skills

• Using the library, the Language Centre and electronic and online resources
• Improving communication skills
• Speaking, reading and writing in Russian

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Computer literacy
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Reflecting upon and improving own learning
• Applying subject knowledge

Employability skills

Analytical skills

Capacity to analyse and make critical judgement.

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. Capacity for self-appraisal, reflection and time management.

Assessment methods

Assessment task	Formative or Summative	Weighting within unit (if summative)
Two in-class grammar tests (one in each Semester)	Summative	20% (10% each)
Two in-class writing/vocabulary tests (one in each Semester)	Summative	20% (10% each)
Oral exams, held at the end of each Semester	Summative	30% (15% each)
A written exam, held at the end of Semester 2	Summative	30%

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 oral exams at the end of each semester, and the written exam at the end of semester 2, special feedback forms will be available for all students upon request.	Summative

Recommended reading

• I love Russian. A2.¿ Liden&Denz. 2017  

• A.Latysheva, R.Yushkina Russian Grammar in Use. A2 level. (St.Petersburg 2019) 

• 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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