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RUSS2191: Russian Language 2A

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Type Open
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Modern Languages and Cultures (Russian)

Prerequisites

  • Russian Language 1A (RUSS1161) or equivalent

Corequisites

  • At least one additional level 2 module in Russian Studies

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • Russian Language 2B (RUSS2012); Russian Stage 2 (MLAN1491)

Aims

  • To raise students' awareness of issues relating to translation and to practise translation, by examining a range of texts in a variety of registers in Russian and rendering them in English in class and in formative assessments.
  • To develop skills in communication through discussion of a range of topics in Russian.
  • To prepare students for living abroad in terms of language, practical knowledge and cultural competence.

Content

  • There will be three contact hours per week, one oral class, one essay class and one seminar on translation.
  • Classes on translation will alternate between focussing on English to Russian and Russian to English.
  • The teaching and resources in this module reflect a commitment to linguistic and cultural diversity. It positions the richness of the (language area)-speaking world at the core of its syllabus.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • To extend students' knowledge of Russian vocabulary.
  • To consolidate translation skills.
  • To develop fluency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Students will have developed in their ability to translate Russian into fluent English through practical sessions on translation.
  • By the end of the module they should be able to translate unseen texts from Russian into English and English into Russian.
  • Students will also have developed in their ability to communicate clearly in spoken Russian, and to discuss a range of topics in Russian.

Key Skills:

  • Students will gain the ability to present information and/or construct an argument effectively in the target language

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module is taught by means of weekly practicals (devoted to translation of a range of sample texts from English into Russian and Russian into English), weekly essay classes and weekly oral classes.
  • Oral classes will provide the opportunity to broaden the students' vocabulary base by building on vocabulary encountered in the translation texts.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Translation211 per week1 hour21Yes
Practicals211 per week1 hour21Yes
Oral211 per week1 hour21Yes
Preparation and Reading137 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Continuous Assessment Component Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Continuous Assessment of Written Skills300 words80
Continuous Assessment of Oral Skills10 minutes20
Component: Written ExaminationComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Examination (in person)2 hours100Yes
Component: Oral AssessmentComponent Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Oral Examination (in person)10 minutes80Yes

Formative Assessment

Weekly translations/essays and oral preparation work.

More information

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