Dr Olga Sobolev CMK. C614 and Dr Ekaterina Rogatchevskaia

60 hours including self-study (16+), or two/three years at secondary school level (under 16). For all students who aim to reach basic level of proficiency in Russian.

Course Aim: To bring students' knowledge of written and spoken Russian up to low intermediate level. To develop an ability to communicate effectively in Russian (using high-frequency vocabulary and structures) in everyday work and social situations. To establish linguistic skills and attitudes required for promoting and facilitating further study of Russian. To bring the students to level A2 of CEFR. Communicative Content: The course is focused on the following aspects: thorough revision of the basic linguistic structures; exchanging personal information and discussing the most common aspects of culture and current issues in Russia (e.g. education, mass media, festivals); interpreting documents and data, containing a range of topical facts and figures of a country/place; expressing preferences, intentions and opinions; giving advice and proposing alternatives; making comparisons; giving descriptions of people (including character), objects, places, weather & journeys; demonstrating awareness and ability to use formal and informal registers in a limited social context;handling a variety of everyday situations on an adequate linguistic level (relevant high-frequency vocabulary and structures). Structural Content: The course covers basic vocabulary required for communicative functions and focuses on the following linguistic structures: nouns, adjectives, personal & possessive pronouns in singular and plural in all cases; demonstrative pronouns in all cases; short adjectives; comparative adjectives & basic superlatives; conjugation of verbs in all tenses; verbs of motion and prefixed verbs of motion; introduction to aspects; conjugation cardinal & ordinal numerals; expressions of time and date; expressions of purpose; introduction to subjunctive mood. The language command in these areas is expected to be appropriate to the level and task with differentiation of recognition and active usage.

12 hours of classes in the MT. 20 hours of classes in the LT. 8 hours of classes in the ST.

This is a 40 hour-course. Please refer to the LSE timetable for course teaching arrangements.

Course Book: S. Le Fleming & S. Kay, Colloquial Russian, London: Routledge, 2010 (chapters 7-14). Additional: Grammar: N. Betekhina et al, Living Russian Grammar, Moscow: CREF, 2003. Dictionary: Oxford Russian Dictionary, eds M.Wheeler, B. Unbegaun & D. Thompson, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2000.

Continuous assessment (50%) in the MT, LT and ST.
Oral examination (30%) in the LT and ST.
In class assessment (20%) in the LT.