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Study information

Russian Language for Beginners

Module titleRussian Language for Beginners
Module codeMLR1030
Academic year2023/4
Credits30
Module staff

Dr Emily Lygo (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
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. Organise and present a portfolio of their work to demonstrate achievements in learning over time

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 ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
1101900

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching110Five weekly class hours introducing new grammatical material, oral and written exercises, listening and speaking practice
Guided Independent Study190Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Regular written exercises (grammar, translation, writing)2 hours homework a week1-4Answers available to check; discussion with tutor of any problems arising
up to 6 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking, translation. This will vary depending on the nature of the task1-5Written and oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
504010

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Portfolio 50As described on the ELE page1-5Written feedback; opportunity for oral feedback
Oral examination (reading short passage, conversation), end of Term 21010 minutes1, 2, 5Written feedback
Written exam402 hours1-4Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Portfolio Portfolio 1-5Referral/Deferral period
Oral examinationOral examination1, 2, 5Referral/Deferral period
Written examination Written examination 1-4Referral/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

Key words search

Russian, language, beginners

Credit value30
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

16/07/2020