Russian

Three levels of Russian courses are offered. Students should enroll in the course for which they feel best prepared; actual course placement will be confirmed during the first days of class in consultation with instructors. Since all language progress is relative and student strengths vary, prerequisites for the courses are approximate, and students should be assured that every effort will be made to ensure placement that will most benefit the individual student.

Courselist

• RUSS S-Aab Beginning Russian
• RUSS S-B Intermediate Russian I
• RUSS S-1013 Advanced Russian
• Related Course

RUSS S-Aab Beginning Russian (30222)
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Alfia A. Rakova
(8 units: UN, GR, NC) M-F 9 am-12 noon and 1-2 pm. Barker Center, Room 373. Tuition $4,050. Limited enrollment.

This course is a thorough introduction to the Russian language for students with no previous knowledge of Russian. A strong emphasis is placed on developing oral skills and practicing vocabulary and grammar in patterns that imitate natural conversational exchanges. The course includes an introduction to Russian culture with special attention to behavior in social situations to facilitate developing proficiency. To develop reading and speaking fluency, 1 hour per day will be devoted to the reading and discussion of well-known stories, biography, and poetry. Daily reinforcement and writing practice through written exercises. At the end of the course, students will have the means to express themselves on a number of topics and will have a solid basis for further study. Students should be aware that the pace of this course is extremely rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of 6 or more hours per day.

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RUSS S-B Intermediate Russian I (30223)
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Curt Woolhiser
(8 units: UN, GR, NC) M-F 10:30-11:30 am and 12:30-2:30 pm. Barker Center, Room 218. Tuition $4,050. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.

Intensive oral work will be used to increase vocabulary and grammatical accuracy in the development of speaking proficiency. General vocabulary development will be followed by thematically organized topics, including greetings and introductions, self and family, education, work, and human relationships. Special work on the etiquette of common social situations, including telephone communication, letter writing, and general conversational strategies. There will be a review and expansion of difficult topics in Russian grammar, including verb conjugation, aspect, verbs of motion, time expressions, and some work on participles and gerunds. Vocabulary and reading proficiency will be developed through classical and contemporary works by such authors as Pushkin, Lermontov, and Zamiatin and through films. The pace of this course is extremely rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of 6 or more hours per day. Prerequisite: One year of college-level Russian or equivalent.

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RUSS S-1013 Advanced Russian (30225)
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Natalia Pokrovsky
(8 units: UN, GR, NC) M-F 11 am-1 pm and 2-3 pm. Barker Center, Room 316. Tuition $4,050. Limited enrollment.

This course is designed for students who wish to further develop their speaking and reading proficiency. Vocabulary development emphasizes verbs and verb government as essential to effective communication. Grammar work includes both the review of difficult topics and the introduction of new material. Work on reading comprehension makes use of the study of word formation to decrease reliance on the dictionary. Original texts for reading and daily discussion are drawn from classic and contemporary Russian literature, including works by Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Shvartz, and Akhmatova, as well as from contemporary film. The pace of this course is rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of 5 or more hours per day. Prerequisite: Two to three years of college-level Russian.

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