Department of Russian & Slavonic Studies Level 1 Handbook .../file/...2 Introduction This booklet contains full information about Level 1 modules in the Department of Russian and Slavonic

Department of Russian &

Slavonic Studies

Level 1 Handbook

2010-2011

School Of Modern Languages And Linguistics. .

2

1

Note

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in

this publication, but the University can accept no responsibility for any errors

or omissions. University courses are continually reviewed and revised and

there may well be some changes between the date of publication and the

time you embark on your course. The University reserves the right to

discontinue courses of study and to amend ordinances and regulations

governing courses of study whenever it sees fit.

You should speak to your course tutor or Head of Department if you are

in any doubt about the courses you are required to take.

2

Introduction

This booklet contains full information about Level 1 modules in the

Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies. It is intended primarily for

students who have come to Sheffield with the intention of taking a degree in

which Russian, Czech or Polish is a named subject; however, it may also be

useful to other students who decide to take these languages at Level 1 as an

additional subject, and who may be interested in continuing to study them at

subsequent levels.

If, after reading this booklet, you are still uncertain as to what is required of

you, you should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, your

Personal Tutor or the BAML Tutor, who will be glad to advise you. You

should be able to determine your personal tutor’s name from your record in

MUSE.

This booklet should be retained for reference along with other sections of

your Student Handbook.

Level 1 Objectives

Russian (for students with A-level Russian or equivalent)

To build on the language skills acquired at A-level by means of an

integrated programme of language classes.

To consolidate grammatical understanding and enlarge active and

passive vocabulary.

To develop skills in literary and cultural analysis by means of detailed

study of literary texts and other manifestations of Russian culture; to

develop the ability to analyse secondary literature and to write critically

about cultural issues.

Russian for Beginners

To provide students who have little or no previous experience of

Russian with a sound basic knowledge of the language as used in

everyday situations. This knowledge will allow students to read, write

3

and converse in Russian at a simple level, and will prepare for more

advanced study at Level 2.

To develop skills in literary and cultural analysis by means of detailed

study of literary texts and other manifestations of Russian culture; to

develop the ability to analyse secondary literature and to write critically

about cultural issues.

Beginner’s Czech and Beginners’ Polish

To provide students who have little or no previous experience of these

languages with a sound basic knowledge of the language as used in

everyday situations. This knowledge will allow students to read, write

and converse in the target language at a simple level, and will prepare

for more advanced study at Level 2.

To provide students with a broad fundamental understanding of Czech

and Polish history through a programme of lectures, seminars, reading

and essay-writing.

4

Level 1

The programme for Level 1 overall consists of modules to a total value of 120

credits. Either 40 or 60 core credits in Russian must be taken within degree

programmes in which Russian is an integral component; in degree

programmes in which either Czech or Polish is an integral component, 40 core

credits in the given language must be taken. Any remaining credits are

chosen in accordance with the requirements of your degree programme.

NB. You are strongly advised to discuss your choice of other Level 1 modules

with your department (or departments in the case of intending dual honours

students) before registration.

Each module taught in the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies will

normally be assessed during the semester in which it is taught. For details of

assessment procedures for each module see the syllabus and objectives for

that module later in this booklet.

A full timetable will be available at the start of the session.

A. CORE MODULES IN RUSSIAN

1. Single Honours in Russian Studies

2. Single Honours in Russian with Czech

3. Single Honours in Russian with Polish

4. Single Honours in Russian with Japanese

5. Dual Honours in Russian with another named subject (Economics,

English, French, German, Hispanic Studies, History, Linguistics,

Management, Music, Philosophy, Politics, BUT NOT Journalism; see

below)

Compulsory core modules in Russian are as follows:

Code EITHER (post 'A' level Russian

stream)

Credits Semester

RUS105 Russian Language I 10 Autumn

5

RUS106 Russian Language II 10 Spring

RUS120 Introduction to Russian Culture 20 Spring

OR (non 'A' level Russian stream)

RUS103 Russian for Beginners I 20 Autumn

RUS104 Russian for Beginners II 20 Spring


Successful completion of either of these sets of core modules will normally

allow students to proceed to Level 2 of a single- or dual-honours degree

programme including Russian. However, students who do not intend to take

such a degree programme may take some or all of the credits within either set

according to qualifications. Advice is available at registration.

6. BA in Modern Languages

7. Chinese Studies with Russian

8. Japanese Studies with Russian

9. Archaeology and Slavonic Studies (Russian-language stream)

10. Journalism and Russian

Compulsory core modules in Russian are as follows:

Code EITHER (post 'A' level Russian

stream)

Credits Semester

RUS105 Russian Language I 10 Autumn

RUS106 Russian Language II 10 Spring


OR (non 'A' level Russian stream)

RUS103 Russian for Beginners I 20 Autumn

RUS104 Russian for Beginners II 20 Spring

6

Students who have successfully completed RUS103 and RUS104, but have not

taken RUS120, may be permitted, on the recommendation of the Head of

Department, to proceed to Level 2 of a single- or dual-honours degree

programme including Russian for which completion of RUS120 is normally a

requirement.

B. MODULES IN CZECH

11.Russian with Czech

12.French with Czech

13.German with Czech

14.Hispanic Studies with Czech

15.Archaeology and Slavonic Studies (Czech-language stream)

16.BA Modern Languages (major or minor language)

Compulsory core modules in Czech are as follows:

Code Title Credits Semester

RUS121 Czech Language and Culture for

Beginners I

20 Autumn

RUS122 Czech Language and Culture for

Beginners II

20 Spring

Students who wish to take the BA in Modern Languages with Czech as a

major or minor language must take 40 credits in Czech at Level 1. At each of

Levels 2 and 3 a further 40 or 20 credits in Czech will be taken. It is also

possible to begin the study of Czech as a minor language within the BA in

Modern Languages at Level 2.

Modules in Czech are available as free-standing options to students taking

any degree programme. NB only one of Czech and Polish may be studied at

Level 1. Successful completion of 40 credits in Czech in conjunction with

successful completion of 40 or 60 credits in Russian (see above) will allow

students to proceed to Level 2 of Russian with Czech, or to take more

advanced modules in Czech as a free-standing option at Level 2.

7

C. MODULES IN POLISH

17.Russian with Polish

18.French with Polish

19.German with Polish

20.Hispanic Studies with Polish

21.Archaeology and Slavonic Studies (Polish-language stream)

22.BA Modern Languages (major or minor language)

Compulsory core modules in Polish are as follows:


RUS123 Polish Language and Culture for

Beginners I

20 Autumn

RUS124 Polish Language and Culture for

Beginners II

20 Spring

Students who wish to take the BA in Modern Languages with Polish as a

major or minor language must take 40 credits in Polish at Level 1. At each of

Levels 2 and 3 a further 40 or 20 credits in Polish will be taken. It is also

possible to begin the study of Polish as a minor language within the BA in

Modern Languages at Level 2.

Modules in Polish are available as free-standing options to students taking

any degree programme. NB only one of Czech and Polish may be studied at

Level 1. Successful completion of 40 credits in Polish in conjunction with

successful completion of 40 or 60 credits in Russian (see above) will allow

students to proceed to Level 2 of Russian with Polish, or to take more

advanced modules in Polish as a free-standing option at Level 2.

8

D. OTHER MODULES

The following modules are available as free-standing options to any student

taking any degree programme (RUS110 is available as an option to students

taking degree programmes in which Russian is a named subject). There is no

Russian-language content in these modules.


RUS110 Russian Society in the Twentieth

Century

20 Autumn


RUS125-126 History of East-Central Europe 20 Autumn/

Spring

The following pages give full details of the aims, objectives, content and

assessment methods of all modules offered at Level 1 by the Department of

Russian and Slavonic Studies. For guidance on which modules you must take

see the outline syllabus above.

If you require further information about any of these modules please see the

lecturer or lecturers responsible.

9

RUS103/104: RUSSIAN FOR BEGINNERS

Course taught: Level 1, Autumn (103) and Spring (104) Semesters (40 credits)

Course tutors: Mrs L. Hanna, Ms L Nedialkova, Mr A Fergus

Aims: To provide students who have no previous knowledge of Russian with a

sound knowledge of Russian pronunciation, writing, grammar and

vocabulary as used in everyday situations likely to be encountered on a

visit to Russia. Gradually to increase the range of vocabulary and

grammar understood, and the range of situations handled.

We try to create a lively, informal atmosphere in our Beginners’ classes

and we encourage students to actively participate in their learning.

Teaching in smaller groups allows tutors to get to know individual

students and their needs.

Outcome: By the end of RUS104, the ability to read simple, unedited texts in

Russian, converse in a restricted range of situations, write a short

composition or letter, and translate texts.

Teaching: Textbook classes, weekly grammar drill and oral practice.

Assessment:

First semester: (RUS103) Departmental tests (written, oral and listening

comprehension) and a two-hour written examination.

Second semester: (RUS104) Departmental tests (written, oral and listening

comprehension) and a two-hour written examination.

To successfully complete the modules, students MUST gain a minimum mark

of 40% in the invigilated examinations.

Notional effort hours: 400

Total teaching contact hours: 100

Expected number of hours of independent study: 200

Assessments and preparation for assessments: 100

Textbooks and reference books:

Svetlana Le Fleming and Susan E. Key, Colloquial Russian, 3rd ed. (Abingdon:

Routledge, 2010). Pack with book and 2 CDs. ISBN 978-0-415-48628-6.

10

S. A. Khavronina and A. I. Shirochenskaya, Russian in Exercises, 19th ed.

(Moscow: Russky yazyk, 2009). Available from Department.

Patrick Waddington, Russian by Subjects (London: Bristol Classical Press,

1992). (Any earlier edition will do just as well.)

Edwina J. Cruise, English Grammar for Students of Russian: The Study Guide

for Those Learning Russian, 2nd ed. (Ann Arbor, MI: Olivia and Hill Press, 1993).

Western Bank Library 491.75 (C)

John Dunn and Shamil Khairov, Modern Russian Grammar (Abingdon:

Routledge, 2009). Information Commons and Western Bank Library

491.782421 (D)

Della Thompson, ed., Oxford Russian Minidictionary, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 2006).

Note: The course assumes no previous knowledge of Russian. Students with a

recent good grade in GCSE Russian may be considered for RUS105/106.

11

RUS105/106: RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

Course taught: Level 1, Autumn (105) and Spring (106) Semesters (20 credits)

Course tutors: Dr D Divjak, Ms M Ivanova, Ms L Nedialkova (module

coordinator)

Aims:

This module aims to:

Build on the language skills acquired at A-level by means of an

integrated programme of language classes in grammar and lexis (105

and 106); in comprehension and oral practice, including the use of

audio and video materials (105 and 106); and in translation from

Russian to English and English to Russian (106).

Improve reading skills

Outcome:

By the end of the unit a candidate will:

Demonstrate a sound knowledge of all the essentials of Russian

grammar;

Be able to comprehend and converse in Russian on topics of a general

nature.

Be able to translate, both into and from Russian, sentences and texts of

average difficulty from a variety of registers.

Teaching: RUS105: three weekly classes, two with a native speaker of Russian.

RUS106: four weekly classes, two with a native speaker of Russian.

Assessment:

First semester: Assessed homework (25%); an oral examination (25%); an

invigilated examination (50%).

Second semester: Assessed homework (25%); an oral examination (25%); an

invigilated examination (50%).

Notional effort hours: Total teaching contact hours: 88

12

Expected number of hours of independent study,

assessments, and preparation for assessments: 116

Required course book:

Olga Kagan, Frank Miller, V puti, 2nd ed.: Russian Grammar in Context (Prentice

Hall. 2005)

Recommended reference works:

Svetlana and Stephen Le Fleming, A Guide to Essay Writing in Russian (Bristol

Classical Press, 1996)

Derek Offord, Modern Russian: an Advanced Grammar Course (Bristol

Classical Press, 1993)

T. L. B. Wade, A Comprehensive Grammar of Russian (Blackwell, 1992)

The Oxford Russian Dictionary (OUP, 1993)

13

RUS110: RUSSIAN SOCIETY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Course taught: Level 1, Autumn Semester (20 credits)

Course tutors: Professor C Brandist, Mr A Fergus

Aims: To provide an introduction to the history and institutions of what was

the Soviet Union and to show how factors inherent in that history

contributed to the collapse of Soviet power and to the emergence of

contemporary post-Soviet Russia. The course assumes no previous

knowledge of Russian history or politics, and there is no Russian

language content.

Outcome: Students will have the opportunity to acquire a sound knowledge

of the government, politics and society of Soviet Russia, largely on the

basis of secondary texts. They will learn to formulate critical arguments

using such materials and to present such arguments in written form.

Teaching: 3 classes per week

Assessment: One essay of c. 2000 words (one third of total assessment); one

two-hour invigilated examination (two thirds of total assessment); one

group presentation (this will not contribute to the final grade, but must

be done in order to complete the module—non-participation in a

presentation will attract a penalty of 5 marks).

Notional effort hours:




Syllabus: The Russian revolution and the Bolshevik seizure of power; Soviet

ideology, the Communist Party and Soviet government; the economy of the

USSR; Soviet society in the 1930s; Soviet foreign policy; the USSR and Eastern

Europe; religion in twentieth-century Russia; the Khrushchev period and after;

Gorbachev and the end of the Soviet Union; post-Soviet Russia.

14

Recommended reading: This is an introductory list. More specific reading will

be recommended during the course:

R.N. Carew Hunt, The Theory and Practice of Communism (Harmondsworth,

many editions)

G. Hosking, A History of the Soviet Union (London, 1992)

L. Kochan and R. Abraham, The Making of Modern Russia (Harmondsworth,

1983)

R. Service, A History of Twentieth-Century Russia (London, 1998)

S. White, After Gorbachev (Cambridge, 1993)

15

RUS120: INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIAN CULTURE

Semester: Spring

Credit Value: 20

Tutors: Prof. C Brandist, Prof. E. Dobrenko (coordinator), Prof. S Reid,

Dr O Johnson and others

Teaching: Ten weekly lectures/seminars (2 hours); four tutorials (1 hour);

one workshop on oral presentation (2 hours); one workshop

on essay writing (2 hours); two film showings (2 hours, 3

hours)

Assessment: one essay of c. 2000 words (30%); two-hour written

examination (70%); group presentation (not assessed, but

failure to contribute to a presentation leads to a deduction of

5 marks from the overall mark for the module).

Notional

effort hours:

200: Contact hours 33; Independent study 165; Examination 2

Synopsis:

This module provides an introduction to major trends in Russian culture of the

nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As well as a number of literary texts by

major authors, the module covers film, the visual arts and the media; the

relationship between popular culture and elite culture is also considered. No

knowledge of Russian is required.

Aims:

This module aims to

provide an understanding of major trends in the development of

nineteenth- and twentieth-century Russian culture, including the

changing relationship between popular and elite culture and the role

played by historical and political factors;

16

introduce, and promote practical and critical understanding of, the

principal approaches to Russian culture in Russian and Anglo-American

scholarship, and the methodologies used to analyse culture;

introduce basic techniques for locating and making effective use of

primary and secondary sources;

develop an ability, both alone and in cooperation with others, to

present and interpret primary and secondary material in accordance

with the approaches and methodologies introduced.

Outcomes:

By the end of the unit, a candidate will be able to demonstrate

capacity for independent study and efficient management of time;

ability to work effectively with others in the achievement of shared

aims;

knowledge and understanding of broad trends in the development of

Russian culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries;

understanding of the relationships between popular and elite culture,

and between the major media of Russian culture (the written word,

performance, the visual arts, and cinema);

first-hand acquaintance with a number of key cultural products in the

major media;

awareness of the basic concepts and principles associated with the

study of Russian culture;

ability to locate relevant primary and secondary material, and to present

and interpret this material coherently and in such a way as to

demonstrate achievement of all the outcomes listed above.

Syllabus:

Precise details of the syllabus will be finalised at the beginning of the Spring

Semester. Literary texts to be studied will include Mikhail Lermontov’s A

Hero of Our Time, Lev Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich; and Anton

Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Films to be studied will include Sergei

Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin and Nikita Mikhalkov’s Burnt by the Sun.

There will also be detailed study of examples of Russian visual arts.

17

RUS121/122 CZECH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 1 & 2

Course taught: Level 1, Autumn (121) and Spring (122) Semesters (20

credits each)

Course tutors: Mrs L. Hanna, Mr L. Knittl

Aims:

These modules aim:

to provide a grounding in contemporary Czech, concentrating on the

language of everyday situations;

to begin to acquaint students with the fundamentals of Czech grammar;

to begin to develop their written and oral skills on basic, everyday

topics;

to provide a basic knowledge of the history and culture of the Czech

lands within the context of Central Europe.

Outcome:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

recognize and use the sounds and writing systems of the language;

demonstrate familiarity with the concept of case and learn to

implement most of the basic cases;

use basic vocabulary to communicate in everyday situations, both in

written form and verbally;

demonstrate familiarity with the basic outlines of the history of the

Czech lands .

Teaching: Grammar and textbook classes are accompanied by weekly

conversation classes with a native speaker that focus more closely on oral

production and reception. Lectures and seminars cover the history and culture

of the Czech Republic in its Central European context.

18

Assessment:

Autumn Semester: Invigilated language exam (40%), Invigilated history exam

(20%), History presentation (20%), oral exam (20%)

Spring Semester: Invigilated language exam (40%), Invigilated history exam


Notes:

1. To pass, you must have half of your weighted marks at 40% or above. This

half must include the final invigilated language exam.

Syllabus: see Aims and Outcome, above. By the end of the module most of

the principal grammatical constructions have been introduced.

Course textbook:

Lída Holá, New Czech Step By Step. Akropolis, 2005.

For history readings, see the Star Resource List on the Library’s website.

Additional materials are available on the MOLE website.

Note: The course assumes no previous knowledge of Czech.





19

RUS123/124 POLISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE FOR

BEGINNERS 1 & 2


credits each)

Course tutors: Dr D. Divjak, NN (Polish lector)

The course is intended for ab-initio students and assumes no previous

knowledge of Polish.

Aims:

This module aims to:

provide a grounding in Contemporary Polish, concentrating on the

language of everyday situations;

acquaints students with the fundamentals of Polish grammar, including

case and aspect

develops their written and oral skills on basic, everyday topics;

provides a basic knowledge of the history and culture of Central Europe,

especially with relation to Poland.

Outcome:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

recognize and use the sounds and writing systems of the language;

demonstrate familiarity with the concept of case and learned to

implement most of the basic cases;

use basic everyday vocabulary;

express basic information in spoken and written form;

demonstrate familiarity with the basic outlines of the history of Central

Europe, with a focus on that of Poland.

Teaching: Grammar and drill classes are accompanied by weekly conversation

classes that focus more closely on oral production and reception. Lectures

20

and seminars cover the history and culture of Poland in its Central

European context.

Assessment:

Autumn Semester: Invigilated language exam (40%), Invigilated history

exam (20%), History presentation (20%), oral exam (20%)

Spring Semester: Invigilated language exam (40%), Invigilated history exam


Notes: To pass, you must have 50% of your weighted marks at 40/100 or

above. This 50% must include the final invigilated language exam.

Syllabus: see Aims and Outcome, above. By the end of the module most of

the principal grammatical constructions have been introduced.

Course textbook:

Textbook

Małgorzata Małolepsza, Aneta Szymkiewicz. 2006. PO POLSKU 1. Podręcznik

studenta + 1 CD (A1). Kraków: Prolog.

Workbook:

Małgorzata Małolepsza, Aneta Szymkiewicz. 2006. PO POLSKU 1. Zeszyt

ćwiczeń + CD. Kraków: Prolog.

Recommended reference materials:

Oscar Swan. Polish grammar in a nutshell. Can be downloaded from

http://polish.slavic.pitt.edu/firstyear/nutshell.pdf

Stanisław Mędak. 2003. Słownik odmiany rzeczowników polskich. Kraków:

Universitas. [conjugation patterns – library has got copies]

Stanisław Mędak. 2004. Słownik form koniugacyjnych czasowników polskich.

Kraków: Universitas. [declension patterns – library has got copies]

21

Pocket Oxford-PWN Polish Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [2007]

NB:

For history readings, see the Star Resource List on the Library’s website.

Additional materials are available on the MOLE website.

Lesson plans are posted on uSpace – please go there and sign up to receive

updates by email.





22

RUS125/126 HISTORY OF EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE 1 & 2


credits each)

Course tutors: Mr L. Knittl, NN (Polish lector)

Aims:

These modules aim to:

Provide a knowledge of the history and culture of Central Europe,

especially with relation to the Czech lands, and Poland;

Acquaint students with the basic similarities and differences between

the histories of these countries with a particular focus on one of them;

Develop students’ critical faculties through directed reading

assignments and seminar discussions;

Develop students’ writing faculties through the production of a

presentation;

Develop students’ spoken facility through group presentations at

seminars.

Outcome:

By the end of this module, students will be able to demonstrate:

A familiarity with the basic outlines of the history of Central Europe,

with a focus on that of either the Czech lands or Poland;

A critical perspective on the history of one of these countries that is also

informed by a knowledge of different historical sources;

An ability to present coherently and persuasively on relevant topics,

both in an examination setting and in a presentation;

An ability to work together and organise short group presentations on

assigned topics

Teaching: Lectures, seminars and presentations.

Assessment:

Autumn Semester: Presentation in class (40%), invigilated exam (60%).

Spring Semester: Presentation in class (40%), invigilated exam (60%).

23

Syllabus: see Aims and Outcome, above.

Course textbook:

See the Star Resource List on the Library’s website for suggested textbooks.

Additional materials available on MOLE website for this module.





Documents

Department of Russian & Slavonic Studies Level 1 Handbook .../file/...2 Introduction This booklet contains full information about Level 1 modules in the Department of Russian and Slavonic