Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme who have passed Russian 1 Beginners and Russian 2 Pre-Intermediate.
Description
This Russian language course is meant for students with knowledge of the language on level A1+/A2+ of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). The course will provide students with further knowledge of Russian grammar and vocabulary usage (idiomatic approach) and aims to further develop language skills as speaking, listening, reading and writing. An important aspect of the course will be using Russian in a cultural setting. The student will learn the practical skills, which can later be used in the working environment, when going to Russia for study, internship or work. Communicative skills will be trained next to a sufficient amount of independent reading, listening and writing. There will be a lot of focus on talking and reading about Russian politics, history and culture. The course provides the knowledge to communicate and understand Russian at A2/B1 level (CEFR).
Course objectives
This course enables the student to achieve an overall level A2/B1 of the Common European Frame (CEF). This course is the last course in a series of three language acquisition courses within the International Studies program. The final objective of this course series is to obtain an intermediate level of proficiency in Russian, aimed at communication with people in the region in everyday social situations and enabling students to follow current affairs in the region via various media.
| Skill | CEFR Level |
|---|---|
| Reading | B1 |
| Writing | A2 |
| Listening | B1 |
| Speaking | A2 |
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Tutorials
Two two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent will result in a lowering of the participation grade with 0.5 for every absence after the first two (2) times.
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), which equals 140 hours, broken down by:
Attending classes (4 hours per week over 12 weeks): 48 hours
Preparing for classes, exams and extra activities: 86 hours
Assessment hours (exams and other assessment): 6 hours
Assessment method
Assessment & weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Listening exam | 20% | block 3 |
| Midterm exam: writing & vocabulary & reading comprehension in-class exam | 20% | block 3 |
| Presentation and oral exam | 20% | block 3 and 4 |
| Final exam: writing & vocabulary & reading comprehension in-class exam | 20% | block 4 |
| Participation (online grammar tests, portfolio, homework, etc.) | 20% | block 3 and 4 |
End Grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance, and written exams.
The End Grade needs to be a 6.0 or higher to pass the course.
Resit
If the End Grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), there is a possibility of retaking the full 80% of the exam material (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). No resit for the tutorial (participation) is possible.
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2018 – 2019.
Exam review
How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for this course. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
Compulsory books:
Course material: Russian syllabus provided by Olja Karmanova (Euro 15,00) and portfolio’s.
Russian Grammar, Ruslan Limited, paperback, 2010, ISBN 9781899785742
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for Tutorials is mandatory.
Students will be enrolled for Exams by the Administration Office, as long as they have a valid Tutorial enrolment.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number, and tutorial group number.
Remarks
This course uses an integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.