Summary

Level:

This module is offered to students with no prior knowledge of Russian. This will offer the opportunity for students across the University to acquire basic communication skills with the aim to be able to cope abroad and to begin to read texts of various registers.

Please note, final year students are not normally permitted to take non-accelerated beginners modules.

Main Objectives:

To provide a general foundation in the language, extending across the four main skill areas; listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students will acquire a grounding in essential grammar and gain an insight into Russian society.

Credits:

30 CREDITS, also available for 24 CREDITS.

Teaching:

One 2-hour language class each week for 21 weeks.

Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore the minimum expected amount of study is 240 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required. Students can make use of Languages@Warwick (a virtual learning environment) to facilitate this.

Tutor:

Natasha Moore

Course Texts

Let's go! Poekhali! A course for beginners. S. Chernyshov. St. Petersburg: Zlatoust. ISBN: 978-5-86547859-1

Additional material

• "The Oxford Russian Grammar and Verbs". Terense Wade
• Russian Grammar Laminate Reference Chart (Quickstudy: Academic)

• Russian Grammar in Tables and Charts. Reference book for foreign learners. N.S.Novikova, T.V.Shustikova. Moscow: Russian Language, 2015. ISBN: 978-5-88337-310-6

• Russian grammar in pictures. G.G. Malyshev. Zlatoust. ISBN: 978-5-86547-505-7
• Кабяк Н.В. «Очень простые истории» / Kabiak N.V., Very simple stories (electronic publication). – St.Petersburg: Zlatoust, 2015. ISBN: 978-5-86547-704-4
• Костюк Н.А., Филлипс Д. «Читаем без проблем» / Kostyuk, N.A., Fhillips, D. Reading without problems: In 4 parts (electronic publication) – 9th ed. – St.Petersburg: Zlatoust, 2014. ISBN: 978-5-86547-813-3
• Dictionary, Russian-English, English-Russian, Oxford University Press.

Course Description

The prime aim of this module is to enable students to develop competence in a range of predictable everyday tasks. This module will focus on acquiring essential listening and speaking skills. Students will also develop and practise basic reading and writing techniques. The stimulus material (aural, written and visual) will not only provide an introduction to Russian grammar and syntax but also contribute to giving the students an insight into everyday life in Russia.

Successful completion of Russian 1 qualifies students to progress to Russian 2.

Learning Outcomes

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

• apply a basic knowledge of grammar appropriate to the level
• apply strategies for understanding gist and specific information
• have insight into everyday life in the relevant countries
• recognise familiar words and phrases when spoken slowly
• understand short texts in the target language, dealing with everyday material
• write short simple texts, including personal details
• interact in simple way , and ask and answer questions on familiar topics

By the end of the course, students should be able to perform at Level A1 Basic user (breakthrough) of the Common European Framework.