Language and Culture in Global Russia

PREREQUISITES
Students with sophomore, junior, or senior status during the 2015-2016 academic year who will have completed at least two terms of Russian (101–102) at Carleton, or the equivalent, by the end of winter term 2016 are encouraged to apply.

COURSE OF STUDY, 18 CREDITS
All courses apply toward the Certificate of Advanced Study in Russian and the major in Russian.  The applicability of credit may differ for individual students, depending on level and categories within the major and concentration to be fulfilled. You are advised to consult the department with questions.  All students will register for 9 credits of language courses, which meet from six to nine periods per week and are taught by members of the Philological Faculty of Moscow State University. Students at all levels of Russian experience will also register for a spring break reading course prior to the seminar, as well as “Russia’s Hallowed Places”.

RUSS 290: READING FOR RUSSIA (3 credits)
Over spring break students will read works related to the seminar courses of study and excursions. Discussion and an examination on the reading will occur in the beginning of spring term.
Instructor: Professor Nemec Ignashev

RUSS 226:  RUSSIA’S HALLOWED PLACES (6 credits)
This course explores localities in Russia that have acquired the significance of hallowed or sacred places, the reasons underlying their designation, and the diversity of belief systems they embody. Localities considered include places in and around Moscow (some holy, others cursed), the routes of literary heroes (and their creators) in St. Petersburg, sites of legendary historical significance in Central Russia, and the “sacred sea” of Siberia, Lake Baikal, and its Buryat-Mongol shamanist-Buddhist environs. Course materials: readings, films, excursions, lectures, and travel. Student learning is assessed through occasional quizzes, weekly discussions, and integrative blog writing assignments.
Instructor: Professor Nemec Ignashev

STUDENTS CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BLOCKS:

ADVANCED LANGUAGE BLOCK
RUSS 307: Advanced Grammar, 4 credits
RUSS 308: Advanced Phonetics and Intonation, 2 credits
RUSS 309: Advanced Practicum, 3 credits

These three courses combine advanced work in Russian grammar, language practice (speaking and writing), and phonetics. Students who register at this level will have completed at least 6 credits beyond Russian 205 and/or 206 and may already have studied in Russia. 

     -OR-

INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE BLOCK
RUSS 207: Intermediate Grammar, 4 credits
RUSS 208: Intermediate Phonetics, 2 credits
RUSS 209: Intermediate Conversation, 3 credits

These courses are for students at the intermediate level who have completed Russian 205 and/or 206. Focus at this level will be on vocabulary enrichment, grammar, and phonetics. Conversational Russian in class will be supplemented throughout the homestay environment as well as in meetings with Russian students.

     -OR-

BEGINNING LANGUAGE BLOCK
RUSS 107: Beginning Grammar, 4 credits
RUSS 108: Beginning Phonetics, 2 credits
RUSS 109: Beginning Conversation, 3 credits

These courses are for students who have just recently begun their study of the Russian language, having completed or tested beyond elementary Russian 102. At this level students work on a combination of grammar, conversation practice, reading, and phonetics.

HERITAGE STUDENTS
Heritage Students will do a combination of language study and independent study in a field of their choice in addition to Russian 226.