B2538 - Written and Oral Communication in Russian (Second Language) II

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the student has acquired knowledge of the linguistic and pragmatic aspects of the Russian language. They are able to understand, analyze, and produce spoken and written discourse on a wide range of topics in Russian, as used in various areas of modern society.

They are capable of managing complex communicative situations, expressing themselves spontaneously and demonstrating command of pragmatic communication strategies in Russian.

The skills acquired by the end of the second year correspond approximately to level B2+ of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Course contents

Ecco la traduzione in inglese:

Grammar component:

The syllabus of the module "Written and Oral Communication in Russian (Second Language) II" includes the consolidation of linguistic structures introduced in previous modules, as well as the introduction of specific cases related to the following topics:

Vocabulary: collocations, idiomatic expressions, figurative uses of verbs of motion
Noun: case syntax (verb government)
Verb: particular uses of aspectual forms
Simple sentence: complements of place, time, cause, and purpose
Complex sentence: main types of subordinate clauses (temporal, relative, causal and final, concessive and conditional) and the corresponding conjunctions.

In addition to grammar knowledge, language skills will be developed through oral, reading, and writing communication activities.

Language practice classes:

Attendance is mandatory and is part of the student’s overall required coursework. The sessions include reading and listening exercises, grammar practice, vocabulary expansion, oral production practice (both dialogic and monologic), and written production (summary writing).

The thematic topics will be closely related to those covered in the "Written and Oral Communication in Russian (Second Language) II" course. The lexical content will focus on political and administrative organization, culture and education, as well as aspects of everyday life in contemporary Russia.

The language practice sessions are an integral part of the course, and the topics covered will be assessed in the final exam.

Fammi sapere se ti serve una versione più formale o accademica, o se va bene così.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings and exercises:

Nikitina Eserciziario di russo con soluzioni. Livello B1-B2. - Hoepli, 2016.

Pul'kina I. M., E. Zachava-Nekrasova, Il Russo. Grammatica pratica con esercizi. Mosca - Genova: Russkij jazyk - Edest, 1991. (or other edition)

Basko N.V. Obsuždaem global’nye problemy, povtorjaem russkuju grammatiku. Moskva: Russkij jazyk, 2013 (or other edition)

Bilingual dictionaries:

Kovalёv, V. Dizionario bilingue russo-italiano e italiano-russo, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2007 (or other edition)

Dobrovol’skaja, Ju. Grande dizionario russo-italiano, italiano-russo. Hoepli

Monolingual dictionaries:

Kuznecov S.A. Bol’šoj tolkovyj slovar’ russkogo jazyka. SPb: Norint, 1998 (or other edition) - versione digitale (costantemente aggiornata): https://gramota.ru/biblioteka/slovari/bolshoj-tolkovyj-slovar

Teaching methods

The course requires a minimum attendance of 70% of the lessons, which are both lecture-based and interactive. Exercises, readings, and discussions will be carried out during class. Individual homework assignments will be regularly given and subsequently corrected by the instructor.

The language practice sessions aim to further enrich students’ vocabulary and provide opportunities to apply the linguistic knowledge acquired. Independent reading of contemporary original texts is also expected.

Assessment methods

In order to demonstrate the language skills and competences acquired, students are required to pass a final exam at the end of the module.

The exam consists of a written test (a lexico-grammatical test) and an oral test, which includes: reading, translation, and grammatical analysis of a Russian text, as well as a conversation on topics covered in the language practice classes.

When determining the final grade for the module, the evaluation of written assignments (homework tasks) will also be taken into account.

The final grade is based on the average of the marks obtained in each component of the exam.

Grading scale:

- 30–30 with honors: an excellent performance demonstrating thorough acquisition of lexical, grammatical, and cultural content introduced during the course; excellent command of the Russian language and culture.

- 27–29: an above-average performance, with only minor errors, compensated by a more than satisfactory demonstration of linguistic knowledge and skills.

- 24–26: a good performance, though with some clear errors indicating partial acquisition of the required knowledge and skills.

- 21–23: a sufficient performance, but with significant gaps in the expected knowledge and skills.

- 18–20: a performance that meets only the minimum requirements in terms of knowledge and skills.

- Below 18 – Fail: the student has not acquired the basic knowledge required; the exam must be retaken.

Teaching tools

In addition to the texts listed in the bibliography, supplementary printed and multimedia materials will be provided for reading, listening, writing, and conversation exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Svetlana Slavkova