Course Syllabus
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Course Description and Prerequisites | Course Objectives | Course Requisite Technical Skills | Time Expectation | Textbooks and Materials | Course Grading | Course Policies | Student Rights & Responsibilities | Overview of Assignments | Taking Proctored Assessments | Your Email Account | Student Resources | Accommodation Policy and Statements | NOVA Online Policies and Procedures | Course Summary (Assignment Schedule and Critical Dates)
Course Title: RUS 202 - Intermediate Russian II (4 Credits)
Semester: INSTRUCTORS WILL TYPE INFO HERE
Faculty: INSTRUCTORS WILL TYPE INFO HERE
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Course Description and Prerequisites
In this course, you practice your Russian, applying what you have learned thus far. You move up on the proficiency scale by expanding your vocabulary, practicing key grammatical functions, and demonstrating ever higher levels of 'automaticity' as you use the language. (Automaticity is a term used in Second Language Acquisition theory to describe how quickly and easily you use the language.)
We begin the class by brushing up grammar and reviewing all of the six grammar cases, after which we move and work on summarizing/retelling/providing the gist of or reporting someone else’s text/speech during the rest of the semester. Why so? —Two major reasons! When we are prompted to summarize some text/speech or report it in short, first we need to make sure we understand that text/speech (focus on listening/reading comprehension!) and then we shall carefully choose the right vocabulary, constructions, forms to retell everything in our own words (focus on speaking/writing!). We will be using materials of https://mezhdunami.org/ and many other web resources (newspaper articles, video reports, literature works, movies) as a springboard for the course, as a source for summarizing/reporting as an object of study in itself. We will also practice describing pictures/paintings to make a silent image very verbal! During the semester, you will be asked to recite one short poem by Tyutchev, three Anton Chekhov’s pieces, one monologue from Maxim Gorky’s play and an excerpt of “Childhood” by Leo Tolstoy. You work on and recite those with an eye to getting all the little stuff right. If you sound Russian, people will respond to you positively. When you recite it, your Russian neighbours will think you are a Russian!
So, can you do it? Yes you can, because it's a different approach to learning a language. Will it be a challenge? Yes, for everyone in the class. You will get best results by spending time with completing the course assignments and with Russian every day.
Entry Level Competencies:
- your completion of RUS 201 or equivalent
- an interest in Russian, Russia and Russian-speaking countries;
- a willingness to learn and try new things;
- curiosity;
- a spirit of adventure;
- resilience (for those times when you don't feel any progress or when it feels like Russian is too hard - it isn't).
Course Objectives
Time Expectation
Course Requisite Technical Skills
In order to succeed in this online course, you must be comfortable working with technology. At a minimum, you must possess the following technical skills:
- Ability to use the Internet in an effective and efficient manner, including installation and management of browser plug-ins and add-ons.
- Basic knowledge about the operation of a computer, file management, and software installation.
- Working knowledge of the Canvas learning management system.
- Proficient searching the web for information
- Able to download and print information from websites
- Able to download, view, and/or print PDF files
Textbooks and Materials
Required Textbooks
You are NOT REQUIRED TO BUY ANY BOOK for this course. We will be using prepared course files (lectures and grammar notes), the Internet materials, and a web-based textbook Между нами (“Between Us”) that is available online, free of charge, so make sure you:
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bookmark this web page https://mezhdunami.org/ to which you will be from time to time referred throughout the semester.
In addition, you will need to have the following:
- reliable access to the Internet;
- a headset or earphones with a mic to be able to participate in our weekly sessions and complete oral/listening assignments (regular Apple earphones will work perfectly!);
- the Russian keyboard installed on your computer – see the Modules’ section “Getting Started – The Russian Keyboard Installation” to learn how you can get the keyboard for your computer;
- Russian keyboard stickers (optional); you can either purchase them or make your own - they will be helpful when typing in Russian.
Course Grading
Course Policies
Attendance Policy: INSTRUCTORS WILL TYPE INFO HERE
Late Work Policy: INSTRUCTORS WILL TYPE INFO HERE
Grading Turnaround Time:
All completed assignments will be graded no later than seven days after the due date, and sooner when possible.
Incomplete Policy:
Withdraw from the Course
Student Rights & Responsibilities
Overview of Assignments
Taking Proctored Assessments
Your Email Account
Student Resources
Accommodation Policy and Statements
NOVA Online Policies and Procedures
Course Summary:
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