First half of advanced courses in Russian conversation and composition. Conducted in Russian.
Building on language skills and cultural competence acquired in 1000 and 2000 level Russian courses, this course aims to develop further students’ vocabulary and improve both their writing and speaking skills. This course uses diverse authentic materials and resources to enrich the learning experience. By incorporating cultural elements through readings and discussions of Russian literature and civilization, this course will raise students’ cultural awareness and allow them to deepen their understanding of Soviet and post-Soviet culture. Only Russian is spoken in class. Discussion of controversial issues with the goal of self-expression in coherent paragraphs will be an important focus of this course..
The learning goals for this semester are: 1) to study advanced grammar topics and syntax; 2) to expand students’ vocabulary base, both active and passive, focusing on abstractions and the language of formal and informal public discourse; 3) to increase students ability to use effective strategies for language learning and communication 4) to improve students skills to discuss discussing different aspects of countries other than their own, and demonstrate an appreciation for these differences.
Textbooks:
Kagan, et. al, Russian: From Intermediate to Advanced (textbook).
In addition, students will be using handouts and audio-visual materials, including one assignment per week on Fridays, taken from a Soviet film by Eldar Ryazanov, “Ирония судьбы” (1974). This cult film, which remains highly popular in Russia, will allow students to examine various aspects of Soviet life and Soviet traditions and customs that persist in the post-Soviet era. Working on the film will also improve their ability to understand, interpret, and discuss Soviet and post-Soviet culture. The film will be on reserve in the library and is available online. There will be one assignment per week related to the film, due on Friday in class.
Active participation in class discussions 15%
Timely and conscientious completion of homework 15%
Weekly compositions (one per week; 1 page handwritten) 30%
Midterm (3 pages, written) 20%
Three Presentations 20%
Final Essay (5 pages, written)
Active participation in class discussions (15% of the final grade):
A: No more than 3 unexcused absences. Thoughtful participation that demonstrates thorough engagement with the course materials prior to class
B: Generally well prepared, some participation, demonstrating acquaintance with course materials prior to class
C: Generally partially prepared or unprepared, present, but little active participation
D: Generally unprepared, present but no active participation
F: More than three unexcused absences
Homework
Homework Expectations: You can expect to spend 1.5-2 hours in preparation for each class day. It is most effective to study some Russian every day. Only homework which is submitted on time or with a valid excuse (e.g., illness) will be corrected.
The monthly homework sheet is to be found in resources on Canvas.
Students must prepare at home thoroughly for every class. Most of the new vocabulary and grammar structures will be learned by the students at home. It is absolutely crucial that students understand that the homework is designed to teach students what they must know in order to participate in class the following day.
A 90-100% - homework is correctly completed
B 80-89% - homework is partly complete, with some mistakes
C 70-79% - homework is incomplete, inadequate understanding of vocabulary and grammar
D 60-69% - homework is incomplete, inadequate understanding of the tasks assigned
F 0-59% - assignment is not submitted
Weekly composition grading
The suggested topics for a weekly one-page handwritten composition are to be found on the monthly homework sheet but may also be chosen individually. Topics should be addressed in a thoughtful, creative way, soundly argued and organized, and well written. Generally, this means that the composition uses varied syntax, is free of lexical and grammatical errors, and has been proofread.
Compositions will be graded as follows:
Communicative Content 25%
Lexicon and spelling 25%
Grammatical Accuracy 25%
Syntax (variety, use of complex sentences) 15%
Originality 10%
You are expected to attend classes and actively contribute to class discussions. You must be prepared to discuss the set readings or films and should bring your notes and questions with you. Please ensure that you complete the assignments by Monday of each week. You may have up to three unexcused absences without your grade being affected. All other absences should be approved according to the Institute requirements (https://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/4/).
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy. For more information about your rights and responsibilities under Georgia Tech’s Honour Code, please visit http://osi.gatech.edu/.
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Arts, Humanities & Ethics area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master the course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course will direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and literary works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary, academic, cinematic, and political texts in the Russian language.
Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Ethical Reasoning
- Information Literacy
- Intercultural Competence