LN200     
Russian Language and Society 4 (proficiency)

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Olga Sobolev PEL 6.01a and Mrs Irina Forbes

Availability

Available as an outside option to all undergraduate and General Course students. Students can take this course in any year of their studies following approval from the teacher responsible and subject to their own programme regulations.

Pre-requisites

Completion of the Russian Language and Society 3 (Advanced) course (LN100) or an equivalent command of Russian is required. An interview with the course co-ordinator prior to registration is compulsory. 

Course content

Further advanced (up to proficiency) study of the Russian language within the framework of social sciences and culture. In a dynamic and communicative way the course develops all four language skills (i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing) through individual and group work, topical discussions, authentic and web-based multi-media materials. The focus is on accuracy as well as communication that advance students’ language competence, transferable skills and cultural awareness.

Teaching

30 hours of classes in the MT. 30 hours of classes in the LT. 3 hours of classes in the ST.

Three hours per week, which will feature: (a) interactive topical work; (b) oral practice; (c) grammar and vocabulary work; (d) tutorials; and (e) guided study using IT and web-based materials. Structured activities during reading week.

This course has reading weeks in week 6 of Michaelmas and Lent terms.

Formative coursework

Students will be required to complete weekly language exercises.

Indicative reading

Colloquial Russian 2, by Olga Sobolev, Natasha Bershadski et al, Routledge, 2018. 

Addiitional: Terence Wade, A Comprehensive Russian Grammar, Blackwell, 2010; Robert Service, The Penguin History of Modern Russia: From Tsarism to the Twenty-first Century, Penguin, 2015; Stephen White Understanding Russian Politics, Cambridge University Press, 2011; Nicholas Rzhevsky, Cambridge Companion to Modern Russian Culture, Cambridge University Press, 2012; Russian newspapers on the web.

Assessment

Exam (40%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Oral examination (20%) in the ST.
Continuous assessment (40%) in the MT and LT.

Language courses map to the Common European Framework for Language Learning.  This framework defines linguistic proficiency in the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) at different levels.  To pass this course, students are therefore required to achieve a pass mark in each element of the assessment (continuous assessment, oral and written exams), as these test all four skills.

Key facts

Department: Language Centre

Total students 2019/20: 2

Average class size 2019/20: 2

Capped 2019/20: Yes (16)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Student performance results

(2017/18 - 2019/20 combined)

Classification % of students
First 66.7
2:1 11.1
2:2 0
Third 0
Fail 22.2