Russian Language for Beginners
| Module title | Russian Language for Beginners |
|---|---|
| Module code | MLR1030 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Emily Lygo (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 16 |
|---|
Module description
This module covers the essentials of the Russian language. You will follow a structured programme involving both individual learning and working with others in small groups, drawing on previous experiences of language learning to develop a better awareness of the range of learning strategies available, and of which work best for you.
This module can be taken by students who have no prior knowledge of Russian, but is also suitable for those who have learned Russian up to GCSE level.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To enable you to acquire skills in speaking, understanding, reading and writing basic Russian. In completing the module successfully you will have a firm grounding in the Russian language which will enable you to continue your studies of the language at levels 2-4.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures covered
- 2. Elicit, understand and communicate basic factual information in Russian, both orally and in writing, displaying reasonable levels of accuracy and idiomatic usage
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Learn how to consolidate your own learning by using available learning aids, in a variety of media, and organise your own learning, with guidance from course tutors
- 4. Understand the principles of learning a new language intensively, and organise learning time with guidance from course tutors
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Communicate at a basic level in Russian
- 6. Gain experience in working in groups at solving basic linguistic tasks
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduce new material, such as grammatical structures and vocabulary
- Practice using this new material
- Give feedback on written work done by the class and practice speaking and listening to Russian
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | 190 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 110 | Five weekly class hours introducing new grammatical material, oral and written exercises, listening and speaking practice |
| Guided independent study | 190 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular written exercises (grammar, translation, writing) | 2 hours homework per week | 1-4, 6 | Written feedback |
| Vocabulary/ grammar tests | 7 x 1 hour e-assessments + 8 written tests (outside class time) | 1-5 | Written feedback |
| Listening comprehension | 1 x 30 minutes e-assessment | 1, 2, 5 | Written feedback |
| Reading comprehension | 1 x 1 hour e-assessment | 1, 2, 5 | Written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 70 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five class tests, as follows: 2 e-tests in term one, 2 written class tests in term two and 1 in term three | 20 | 5 summative tests (e-tests 90 minutes each, written tests 1 hour each) | 1-5 | Written feedback; opportunity for oral feedback |
| Oral examination (reading short passage, conversation), end of Term 2 | 10 | 10 minutes | 1, 2, 5 | Written feedback |
| Paper A summer examination translation into English and into Russian + writing, term three | 45 | 2 hours | 1-4 | Written feedback |
| Paper B e-assessment: listening comprehension and reading comprehension | 25 | Listening comprehension: 1 x 40 minutes e-assessment Reading comprehension: 1 x 1 hour 20 minutes e-assessment | 1-4 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five class tests (e-tests and written tests, in terms one, two, and three) | 2 hour written examination | 1-5 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examination | 1, 2, 5 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination (Paper A) | Written examination | 1-4 | Referral/Deferral period |
| E-assessment (Paper B) | E-assessment | 1-4 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Nick Brown, New Penguin Russian Course (London: Penguin, 1996)
Also recommended are:
- Nick Brown, Russian Learner's Dictionary: 10,000 Russian Words in Frequency Order (London: Routledge, 1996)
- Edwina Cruise, English Grammar for Students of Russian (The Olivia and Hill Press, 1993)
- Paul Falla et al., The Oxford Russian-English/English-Russian Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/search.php?search=MLR1030
- Ruslan: a CALL course available on the foreign language centre computers
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/01/1998 |
| Last revision date | 04/02/2019 |