Introductory description

This module will give students the chance to spend some time learning and reinforcing the most important elements of basic Russian grammar with further points of grammar and syntax. It will offer an opportunity for students to improve their communicative competence in Russian as a supplement to their studies in other spheres. The module will strengthen reading, writing and communicative skills and will further develop cultural awareness through projects and student presentations. For those students intending to travel to Russia or Russian-speaking countries, either for study or work placements, the module can work as a refresher and promote confidence-building for communicating with native speakers abroad.
Prior knowledge of Russian:
A2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)
or Language Centre Russian 2 or Beginners Accelerated
or equivalent

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Topics: describing people, University life, healthy lifestyle, work & employment, Russian cities and people, biographies, cultures, traditions and customs
Grammar: revision of cases; verbs: reflexive verbs, aspects of verbs; Verbs of motion with and without prefixes; Comparative and superlative; Introduction to active and passive participles; Syntax: compound sentence construction

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• to apply knowledge of grammar appropriate to the level
• to understand the main points on matters regularly encountered
• to understand texts dealing with descriptions of events and feelings, and with work-related language
• to enter unprepared into conversation, describe experiences and events and give reasons for opinions
• to produce text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest
• to produce text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will develop students’ linguistic skills through engaging with primary materials in the target language. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of modern language culture through analysis of this primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of Russian will be enhanced through lectures and seminars which engage in scholarship in the field.

Transferable skills

Written and spoken communication