Butler Community College	Gene George
Humanities/Fine Arts Department	Fall 1997

 

Introduction to Russian II
Course Outline

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
FL121. Beginning Russian II. 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: FL120. This course is a natural continuation of Russian I. It will concentrate upon the four basic skills: reading, speaking, writing and listening/ understanding. The emphasis will be placed especially upon listening/ understanding and speaking. Aspects of Russian/Soviet culture and history will be simultaneously incorporated.

TEXTBOOK:
Richard Robin, Joanna Robin, Kathryn Henry . Golosa. Book 2. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall Publishers), 1194, and accompanying workbook/study guide/cassette lesson tapes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Converse in Russian on simple, everyday topics and at a rate slower than native pace during a short oral exam and to the satisfaction of the instructor.
2. Listen to and understand short passages in Russian read by the instructor and to answer with "True" or "False" statements with 80 percent accuracy.
3. Read a short passage in Russian and answer the questions from the text to the instructor's satisfaction.
4. Write a dictation based on already studied texts with 80 percent accuracy.
5. Translate from Russian into English and vice versa already studied parts of the texts and/or everyday phrases to the instructor's satisfaction.

TOPICAL OUTLINE OF UNITS:
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Lesson 1 (review from Russian I)

1. Discuss briefly the place of the Russian language in the Slavic languages and within the Indo-European language group.
2. Identify and recite the Cyrillic alphabet.
3. Demonstrate the rules governing pronunciation of vowels.
4. Demonstrate the rules governing pronunciation of consonants.
5. Demonstrate proper use of soft and hard signs in written Russian and their effect on spoken Russian.
6. Demonstrate the use of the comma in a clause.
7. Recognize the gender of nouns by their endings.
8. Learn the seven personal pronouns.
9. Demonstrate the difference in usage between 2nd person formal and 2nd person informal nouns and pronouns.
10. Use vocabulary and idiomatic expressions from the text in everyday conversation involving personal activities, hobbies, clothing, travel, shopping, and simple business transactions.
11. Pronounce the Russian dipthong properly.
12. Demonstrate the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants.
13. Discuss the use of the verb "to be" in Russian.
14. Identify cognates and deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words through an analysis of their root and and stem.
15. Build on basic vocabulary by linking one word with related words through an analysis of roots and stems.
16. From a negative statement.
17. Form a question.
18. Write in the Cyrillic cursive style.
19. Use the nominative plural form for nouns properly.
20. Create sentences demonstrating possession.
21. Form the proper adjectival ending as dictated by the number, gender, and case of a noun.
22. Demonstrate proper use of the rules of spelling.
23. Conjugate Class I and II verbs in the present tense.
24. Decline nouns into the accusative and prepositional case.
25. Tell time.
26. Use the proper verb of motion as dictated by context.

Lesson 2

1. Use proper telephone etiquette.
2. Recognize cardinal numbers 1-1000 in their nominative form.
3. Use short-form adjectives.
4. Distinguish the uses between different verbs meaning "to see"/"to watch" and "to hear"/"to listen."
5. Use the emphatic pronouns and idiom for "the same" properly.

Lesson 3

1. Ask how to get somewhere.
2. Use proper direction words to tell where something is located.
3. Demonstrate the instrumental case of modifiers and nouns.
4. Use verbs of motion in proper context and express properly the means of transportation.
5. Give commands using the imperative form of the verb.

Lesson 4

1. Describe the weather.
2. Identify seasons using the instrumental case.
3. Use the dative case subject less construction to convey feelings.
4. Demonstrate the difference between "whether" and "if" in "li" constructions.
5. Use the imperative of "to give" plus the future tense of a verb to express an invitation.
6. Use the preposition "k" with the dative case.
7. Use the preposition "v" with the prepositional case to express the idea of in a certain month.

Lesson 5

1. Talk about Russian television, movies, and radio, expressing likes and dislikes, agreeing and disagreeing on program choices, and reading program schedules and reviews.
2. Make comparisons using comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs.
3. Use reflexive verbs.
4. Conjugate irregular verb "to give" in imperfective and perfective aspect and also conjugate prefixed forms of "to give."
5. Use "who/"which"/"that" word (kotoryi) in written Russian.
6. Form past active verbal adjectives.

Lesson 6

1. Demonstrate the declamatory style in reading Russian poetry and discuss the genres of some famous Russian literary works.
2. Ask for a library card.
3. Demonstrate negation constructions.
4. Demonstrate constructions with "-to" and "nibud."
5. Decline last names.
6. Form past passive verbal adjectives.

Lesson 7

1. Discuss hobbies and sports and demonstrate ability to invite someone to an event.
2. Use the verb "to play" plus the accusative case to discuss playing sports and the same verb plus the prepositional case to discuss playing a musical instrument.
3. Use instrumental case in idiomatic expressions, with the preposition "s," and with question words and pronouns.
4. Use third person plural for passive/impersonal meaning.

Lesson 8

1. Talk about one's own health, including using short-form adjectives and verb forms and the instrumental case to describe well being and sickness.
2. Use the instrumental case to express the instrument by which an action is carried out.
3. Use the past-tense form of a verb in clauses that include the verb "to want" plus the conjunction meaning "in order to/ that."
4. Use previous key words to confirm yes/no questions.

Lesson 9

1. Write and post a letter in Russia.
2. Read and respond to personal ads and business letters.
3. Demonstrate dative case plural of modifiers and nouns.
4. Demonstrate uses of prepositions meaning "from."
5. Use the expression "to miss" plus the preposition "po" and the dative case.
6. Demonstrate differences between words "the whole," "everyone" and "everything."
7. Use the reflexive pronoun "sebya."
8. Use second-person informal verb forms to construct sentences that carry an impersonal or passive meaning.
9. Use the verb "to consider" plus the instrumental case.

Lesson 10

1. Make hotel reservations and travel arrangements; deal with common problems of travels; read ads for hotel and travel services.
2. Express dates.
3. Use genitive case plural of modifiers and nouns.
4. Demonstrate form of adjectives following numbers.
5. Demonstrate accusative case plural of animate nouns and their modifiers.
6. Use prefixed verbs of motion.

Lesson 11

1. Talk about holidays' meet and greet hosts and guests at parties; propose toasts; write holiday cards and invitations.
2. Tell time off the hour.
3. Use the prepositional case in the context of direction and location.
4. Demonstrate use of subjunctive clause.
5. Use verbal adverbs and adjectives.
6. Use the construction for "each other."

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Black board and Cyrillic Alphabet Chart will be constantly used in classroom. Audio and visual material will be added as they are developed. Each class session will include reading, speaking, translation, explanation, and exercises. The instructor will usually add some appropriate material as well. The student will actively participate through oral and written exercises and drills, including reading prepared texts and creating original conversations with classmates.

Telecourses: Independent study of audio/video materials augmented by text and study guide; collaboration and participation with class members and faculty via available means. Faculty role is facilitator of learning experiences.

METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Testing and grades will serve as a means of evaluating the student's progress in the course. The student will indicate whether course objectives are being met and if certain aspects need more explanation. This course will have exercises and quizzes in the form of questions and answers, dictation, dialogues, spelling drills, reading and translation practices. In addition, there will be a midterm examination and a final examination, which will test all basic skills: Reading, understanding, speech, spelling, and translation. Classroom participation as well as test grades will be equally important in calculating the final grade.

Miscellaneous: Students with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills are encouraged and have the responsibility to contact their instructor, in a timely fashion, regarding reasonable accommodation needs.