Department of Slavonic Studies
Paper RU B2
Translation from Russian and Oral B
Translation
The examination paper consists of three passages, of no more than 300 words of which a candidate must select two. The passages will be chosen from works of Russian prose from 1700 to the present, and will reflect a variety of registers including literary criticism, historical accounts, memoirs, correspondence and fiction.Teaching
Translation is taught in weekly class with a required total of four written pieces of work per term. The class entails work on a wide range of passages of different periods, styles and registers. Those teaching the paper will be selecting their materials to reflect a broad range of registers and styles. In class, particular attention will be given to syntax, style, vocabulary and grammatical structures. The aim of the class is to expand reading experience and to develop the ability to translate from prose, and in some cases verse, written in a range of styles and genres. In-depth understanding of the contrast between the two languages is given priority. However, it must be noted that the course does not aim to teach students professional translation skills.Russian Oral B
The oral examination is held in the first week of the Easter Term. Candidates are given a short passage (300 words approximately) fifteen minutes before the beginning of the examination. In the examination, they are asked to read the passage to test pronunciation and take part in a conversation stimulated by the text. The examination may also include conversation on general topics.Teaching
You will have a one-hour supervision every week. These oral practices aim to consolidate the linguistic knowledge gained through reading, lectures and translation classes, to develop students' ability to express themselves in Russian, to understand Russian as it is spoken by native speakers in real life situations, and to expand their knowledge of the country, its people and its culture. Reading comprehension is integrated into the oral, where an unseen passage is used to provide material for reading aloud and discussion. The course is intended to develop the ability to speak fluently and accurately in an appropriate register and the ability to engage interestingly in Russian on an intellectual level. For a full list of language classes taken by post A-level students at Part IA, and ab initio students at Part IB, see this page. past examination papers
