RUSSIAN 202-205 (BASIC INTERMEDIATE RUSSIAN)
THE RUSSIAN SCHOOL, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Summer 2001
Andrei Zaitsev and Staff
Course Description | Syllabus
COURSE OVERVIEW AND POLICIES
OVERVIEW. This course aims to activize core functional
grammar and vocabulary so that students will be able to interact confidently
with native speakers of Russian in a wide range of everyday situations.
Students will develop strategies to improve their listening and reading
skills and will work toward producing and maintaining paragraph-length
narration and description in their speaking and writing.
BOOKS. The primary textbook for this course is the brand new edition
of the video-based Russian Stage Two: Welcome back! by Cynthia
Martin and Andrei Zaitsev (Kendall/Hunt, 2001). The shrink-wrapped
textbook package includes the following items:
- The textbook that contains the main language material to cover in
class, the readings as well as vocabulary related to the course, and
the grammar section with appendices;
- The video tape;
- The workbook with homework assignments, and
- Two audiotapes with exercises for listening.
Also, the book Russian Grammar by James S. Levine will be used
as an additional source for grammar references. Additional materials
will be distributed throughout the session.
COURSE GRADE. The final course grade will be determined by the
following formula:
Class participation 10%
Homework Exercises 10%
Compositions 10%
Unit tests 30%
Oral Examinations 15%
Final Examination 20%
Participation in Co-Curriculum Program 5%
CLASS PARTICIPATION. Class participation will be graded for
each hour of class time, according to the following formula:
5 points Present (and on time), completely prepared, and fully engaged
4 points Present and partially prepared or not fully engaged
3 points Present and insufficient prepared, or unengaged
0 points Absent
Late arrival will result in a lowered grade for that hour. Your lowest
two class participation grades will be dropped.
HOMEWORK. Written homework exercises will be graded for accuracy
and effort. Your performance on oral assignments (e.g., preparing
in advance for discussions or preparing short monologues, dialogues,
or skits) will also be evaluated for effort and counted toward your
class participation grade. Thorough completion of all assignments
(including work done in the language lab) is expected. In general,
you should expect to spend the first couple of days of each unit doing
exercises to fortify your mastery of new vocabulary and grammar; toward
the end of the unit you will be asked to be more creative with the
language. Note that some reading assignments are longer than others
and might require extra time.
There will be a lot of homework for this course, but try to do in
conjunction with (rather than to the exclusion of) other Russian School
activities!
UNIT TESTS. Every few days, students will be tested on their
mastery of the vocabulary and grammar from the most recent unit. Written
tests will be based on the themes introduced in the unit’s video episodes
and reading assignments. They will consist of a listening and/ or
reading comprehension component, a vocabulary section (including selected
declensions, conjugations, etc.), a fill-in-the-blanks section, a
translation, and a communicative writing task.
ORAL EXAMS. Oral exams will be conducted during the third,
sixth, and ninth weeks of the program (to be scheduled outside of
the class). Each of the three exams will consist of the following
components:
Oral expression: You will be asked to either recite a memorized
poem or read an excerpt (to be selected by the examiner) from the
assigned reading text. You will be graded for fluency, pronunciation,
and intonation.
Discussion: You will be asked to speak about particular topic
that has been discussed in class (e.g., to retell part of a story
or video episode, to respond to a question or questions related to
a story, video episode, or communicative theme).
Role-play: You will be given a practical task or situation
that has been covered in class.
FINAL EXAMINATION AND EXIT TESTING. A final written examination
will cover all of the material presented in the course, with a special
emphasis on the vocabulary and grammar learned in Unit 10. The format
of the exam will be like that of the unit test, but the final will
be longer. Also, you are REQUIRED to participate in the ‘All-School’
exit testing, which is a part of your language course experience.
Note that students whose final course grade is between two grades
for this course and who show significant progress from entrance to
exit exams will get the higher of the two grades. Students who fail
to take all the exit exams, without a medical excuse, will not get
credit for the course.
ATTENDANCE AND MISSED WORK. Regular class attendance is absolutely
essential! Missing one day of class this summer is equivalent of missing
an entire week of classes in a less intensive course. If you must
miss class due to illness or some other legitimate reason, please
notify the lead instructor in advance if at all possible. You will
be excused your two lowest class participation grades (which could
be absences), but no more. For every 16 absences (i.e., hours missed)
– however legitimate the reason – your final grade will be dropped
by one letter grade. Late written work will not be accepted without
special permission. Missed tests may be made up only under extreme
circumstances. Request for such arrangements should be made to the
lead instructor.
SPECIAL NEEDS. Students with special learning needs are asked
to discuss them with the lead instructor as soon as possible. We are
committed to providing instruction to all learners regardless of any
disability.
DIVISION OF CLASS TIME. The entire course will meet together at
least once a day for an explanation of the grammar points that will
be practiced in that evening’s home assignments and in the next day’s
ïðàêòè÷åñêèå çàíÿòèÿ. Most of the class time will be spent in small
groups (ïðàêòè÷åñêèå çàíÿòèÿ) devoted the following subjects:
Ãðàììàòèêà – oral and written exercises to reinforce featured
grammar points
Ïðàêòèêà ðå÷è – activities to fortify new vocabulary and to
practice communicative themes and functions
Ðàáîòà ñ âèäåîìàòåðèàëîì – intensive work with featured video
episode to strengthen listening comprehension skills, to improve pronunciation
and intonation, to promote cultural awareness, and to practice narration
×òåíèå – work with texts to strengthen reading strategies,
to expand vocabulary, and improve syntax, and to stimulate oral and
written expression
Ôîíåòèêà – exercises in phonetics and intonation, with an emphasis
on reading aloud.
DAILY SCHEDULE. Class will meet weekday mornings from 8:00
am till noon. The first hour of each class session will be devoted
to a presentation of the grammatical topics assigned for that day
and video episodes. For the following three hours class will be conducted
in small groups. However, each day’s schedule may be customized depending
on where we are in a particular unit. Therefore, be prepared to be
flexible!
INSTRUCTORS: You will have the opportunity to work with several
different instructors each day. Additionally, twice a week, in the
afternoon, you will meet Professor Irina Odintsova from Moscow State
University for 30-minute sessions practicing pronunciation and intonation
in small groups.
Course Description | Syllabus
