Department of Slavonic Studies
Paper RU A2
Introduction to Russian 2: Translation from Russian and Oral A
The examination for the translation element of this paper is a two-hour written language paper consisting of two passages for translation into English.Teaching
There is a weekly one-hour translation class. In the Michaelmas Term, passages for translation (from Russian into English) are designed to take account of students progression through the basic grammar course. Subsequent translation is from graded passages of authentic material.Russian Oral A
The Oral examination takes place in mid May. The examination consists of:- The reading aloud of a passage taken from a text chosen by the examiners
- A conversation based on the subject of the text.
Teaching
Oral Practice
You will have one hour of Conversation per week. The first ten classes follow the sequence of lessons in Colloquial Russian. The next eight classes follow the sequence of lessons in Zdravstvuite!, book 3, by Irina Osipova and Marta Kollo. The final two classes are for revision. Each class involves structured conversation on specific themes, designed both to illustrate the relevant points of grammar and gradually to build up a diverse vocabulary.Language Lab classes
The first two classes of the Michaelmas Term focus exclusively on elementary pronunciation, using the Department's Phonetics Course. Subsequent classes begin with brief pronunciation exercises from the course, but mainly involve work with video and audio material. For weeks 3-8 of the Michaelmas Term the classes are based on the video-course The Amazing Adventures of Ibicus in St. Petersburg. In the Lent and Easter Terms the classes are based on the audio-tapes which accompany Zdravstvuite!, and hence develop and reinforce the material studied in the Conversation classes. For a full list of classes taken by ab initio students at Part IA, see this page.
