Russian
Not all courses are available to SSP students. For example, some courses are offered only for graduate credit. Note especially any listed prerequisites.
Related Course
- SLAV S-28 Icon, Ritual, Text: Reading the Culture of Muscovite Rus'
Russian courses are listed below.
Three levels of Russian courses are offered. Students should enroll in the course for which they feel best prepared; actual course
placements are confirmed during the first days of class in consultation with instructors. Since all language progress is relative and student strengths vary, prerequisites for the courses are
approximate, and students should be assured that every effort is made to ensure placement that most benefits the individual student.
Courselist
- RUSS S-Aab Beginning Russian
- RUSS S-Ba Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Intensive Intermediate Language and Culture
- RUSS S-B Intermediate Russian I
- RUSS S-1013 Advanced Russian
RUSS S-Aab
Beginning Russian (30222)
(Print version)
Natalia A. Reed
(8 credits: UN, GR, NC) Eight-week session. M-F 10 am-1 pm and 2-3 pm or 3-4 pm, Barker Center, Room 373. Tuition $4,550. Limited enrollment.
This course is a thorough introduction to the Russian language for students with no previous knowledge of Russian. A strong emphasis is placed on developing oral skills and practicing vocabulary and grammar in patterns that imitate natural conversational exchanges. The course includes an introduction to Russian culture with special attention to behavior in social situations to facilitate developing proficiency. To develop reading and speaking fluency, one hour per day is devoted to the reading and discussion of well-known stories, biography, and poetry. There is daily reinforcement and writing practice through written exercises. At the end of the course, students have the means to express themselves on a number of topics and have a solid basis for further study. Students should be aware that the pace of this course is extremely rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of six or more hours per day.
RUSS S-Ba
Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Intensive Intermediate Language and Culture (32127)
(Print version)
Vladimir Y. Gitin
Limited enrollment.
June 11-August 3. Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
RUSS S-B
Intermediate Russian I (31839)
(Print version)
Anna Bobrov
(8 credits: UN, GR, NC) Eight-week session. M-F 9-11 am and noon-1 pm, Barker Center, Room 012. Tuition $4,550. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.
Intensive oral work is used to increase vocabulary and grammatical accuracy in the development of speaking proficiency. General vocabulary development is followed by thematically organized topics, including greetings and introductions, self and family, education, work, and human relationships. Special work is on the etiquette of common social situations, including telephone communication, letter writing, and general conversational strategies. There is a review and expansion of difficult topics in Russian grammar, including verb conjugation, aspect, verbs of motion, time expressions, and some work on participles and gerunds. Vocabulary and reading proficiency are developed through classical and contemporary works by such authors as Pushkin, Lermontov, and Zamiatin and through films. The pace of this course is extremely rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of six or more hours per day. Prerequisite: One year of college-level Russian or the equivalent.
RUSS S-1013
Advanced Russian (30225)
(Print version)
Natalia Pokrovsky
(8 credits: UN, GR, NC) Eight-week session. M-F 11 am-1 pm and 2-3 pm, Barker Center, Room 103. Tuition $4,550. Limited enrollment.
This course is designed for students who wish to further develop their speaking and reading proficiency. Vocabulary development emphasizes verbs and verb government while grammar work includes both review of difficult topics and introduction of new material. Work on reading comprehension makes use of the study of word formation to decrease reliance on the dictionary. Original texts for reading and daily discussion are drawn from classic and contemporary Russian literature and film. The pace of this course is rapid and requires a total time commitment (including class time) of five or more hours per day. Prerequisite: Two to three years of college-level Russian.