Course description 

This course covers in one semester all the basic grammar of Russian through a combination of oral drilling, reading, written and oral exercises, conversation, videos, CD-ROMs, music and Russian Internet resources.  It provides the student with a basic, but solid knowledge of syntax, a functional vocabulary, familiarity with intonation patterns and native pronunciation, and practice in speaking and writing.  Upon completion of this course, the student can understand simple written texts or short spoken passages without the aid of a dictionary, and can carry on a short, elementary conversation. 

The pace will be fast and the work demanding, so plan on working at least two and a half hours a day on your Russian.  Catching up is not easy, so ask for help right away if you start to fall behind. 

You will meet with your instructors four days a week for two hours in class and an hour of daily language table held in room 164 1-2 p.m. 

Required textbooks and materials: 

1.  Russian Stage One: Live From Moscow! (Volume 1) by Davidson, Gor, and Lekic, Kendall/Hunt, 1996.  PAK: textbook, workbook, video- and audio-tapes. 
2.  Russian Stage One: Live From Moscow! (Volume 2) by Davidson, Gor, and Lekic, Kendall/Hunt, 1996.  PAK: textbook, workbook, video- and audio-tapes. 
3.  Coursepack, including syllabi, keys to workbook exercises, study tips, classroom expressions,calligraphy exercises, review sheets for each unit, and the final review, can be bought at Ulrich’s on S. University Street. 
4.  Textbook Phonetic Exercises for Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Stage One: Live from Moscow! can be obtained in the Language Resource Center on the second floor of MLB. 

Recommended, but not required: 

1. The Russian Reference Grammar: Core Grammar in Functional Context by J. Watzke, J.Sweigert, Jr., Kendall/Hunt1997, ISBN 0-7872-4467-8. 
2.  Russian Stage One: Live From Moscow! Volume I CD-ROM, 1998.  Kendall/Hunt, ISBN 0-7872-4520-8. 
3.  Russian Stage One: Live From Moscow! Volume II CD-ROM, 1998.  Kendall/Hunt, ISBN 0-7872-4678-6. 
4.  Russian-English, English-Russian Oxford Dictionary 

All materials (unless otherwise noted) can be bought at Ulrich’s, Michigan Book and Supply, and Michigan Union Bookstore 

Evaluation: 

Your evaluation (or, if you are an LSA student -- your grade) for this course will be based on the following: 

Twelve in-class vocabulary quizzes  10% 
Six take home quizzes   20% 
Six in-class quizzes    25% 
Final oral and written exams   25% 
Homework/class participation  20% 

Note:  Class participation will be graded in the following manner: 
5 points Present and Completely Prepared 
4 points Present and Partially Prepared 
3 points Present but Completely Unprepared 
0 points Absent 

Every day you will be given the benefit of the doubt: all students earn a score of 5 for classroom participation unless and until they demonstrate that their performance does not merit this score.  We will note your class participation grades on your written homework (returned daily) so that you get a steady flow of feedback on your performance.  This provides you with the earliest possible opportunity to work towards improvement should you need to do so.  The total number of classroom participation points actually earned by each student is divided by the total number of such points available in this semester; the result is a percentage score that will be combined with other 100-point grades in the calculation of the course grade. 

Requirements for this class: 

Remember that you are registered for an eight-credit course that covers two regular semesters of Russian in one.  In order to receive those eight credits, you need to: 

· Attend classes  and co-curricular activities.  Your participation in class and at the lunch tables and Russian Tea will effectively demonstrate your proficiency in the language.  Attendance policy is that each student is allowed up to four absences (i.e. 8 hours)(excused or unexcused)! Please note, that it is your responsibility to contact us if you are absent and tell us what the reason was, and to document it.  Remember that we cannot guess whether you are sick, cutting classes, etc.. 

Submit all written assignments on time. In this class, late written assignments will also count as absences.  We do not accept any delays or make-ups.  Written and oral homework assignments will be assined for each class.  It is assumed that students will work at least two hours outside of class for each hour in class.  There will be no or little language lab assignments, but students will work on their own or with partners on the provided audio cassettes and video program, as well as CD-ROM exercises, available for individual purchase at the bookstores, and for use at the Language Resource Center in MLB, or in the RC lab downstairs. 

Attend Russian extra-curricular activities at least four times a week.  Extra-curricular activities include: language tables (MTThF 1-2, room 164) and Russian tea (Tue 3-5, Greene Lounge).  We will regularly take attendance at these events. 

Observe the honor code when taking take-home and in-class quizzes, and exams.  There will be six take-home quizzes and six in-class 20-minute quizzes (êîíòðîëüíûå ðàáîòû) at the end of each unit.  The lowest score will be dropped at the end of the semester.  No make-ups are allowed. 

Late comers, chewing gum and food are prohibited in the classroom. 

Your instructors are always available for help and discussion outside of class.  Please get in touch with your instructors if you have questions or problems.  You should also meet regularly with Tim Portice, your peer tutor.  He will organize regular group sessions for grammar review and preparation for tests and quizzes.  If you need individual help, do not hesistate to contact him. 
 
 

To see the course syllabi, press HERE. 
 

Plan to study for two hours or more every day.  Skipped study time mounts up. 

In learning new vocabulary, the number of repetitions is more important than the total amount spent.  Start studying new vocabulary on Day 1 of the new unit.  Cramming is an extremely inefficient use of time. 

Always study with a pencil in your hand.  Write down tricky words, jot down questions, notes to yourself, etc.  Both writing and saying words aloud will improve your ability to remember them. 

Using the language is the most efficient means of learning it.  All the exercises are designed for that purpose.  Don’t plan to spend your time reading the grammar explanations and trying to remember them.  Do go through all the exercises, say the words, read the sentences, use the language. 

Use anwer keys to correct your own answers the next day in a contrasting color of pencil or ink.  If you cheat and peek while you are doing them the first time around, you will suffer unspeakable horros when you are confronted with similar exercises in class and on tests and have no answer key to keep you company. Also, your instructor will know, and you won’t get credit for your homework 
 
Use your homework as a dialogue with your instructor.  Write down your questions, underline forms you are not certain of, tell your instructor what you find confusing. 

If you use these suggestions you will find that you will spend less total time studying, and that the time you spend will not only be used more efficiently, but you will feel more confident of your ability to speak the language. 
 
 
 

Please submit all questions and comments to Alina Makin