Russian 1
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at first-year students and consists of lectures (corso monografico) and practical language classes (esercitazioni). Lectures aim to present the structure and the functioning of the basic Russian morphology. Specifically, during the lectures the principles of Russian phonetics will be presented; the categories of the case and the verb will be focused. Part of the course will develop the basic vocabulary of Russian language. Practical language classes aim to develop comprehension and production skills, both oral and written, at A1 level.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the basic principles of Russian phonetic; the structural and semantic particularities connected to the category of the case; the category of the verb in relation to conjunction, reflexive verbs, time of verbs, some irregular verbs, the perfective and imperfective aspects (only considering the expression of the result and of the process), the meaning of the main verbs of motions (without prefixes), some verbal regency, the introduction to the verbal modality in Russian. Applying knowledge and understanding: at the end of lectures students will be able to recognize and to use in practice the acquired morphological structures, as well as, to explain their functioning and function within the sentence. They will be also able to analyze simple texts in Russian from lexical and morphological point of view. Practical language classes will develop the ability to converse on topics of daily life, to read and understand simple texts, to write under dictation, to produce dialogues, stories, short texts (written and oral). The developed linguistic skills will correspond to the first level (A1) of the official standard established by the Council of Europe for the knowledge of foreign languages.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The course "The bases of Russian phonetics and morphology" is composed by the following parts, which will be analyzed in sequence:
A: The bases of Russian phonetics, the case (1st part), introduction to the category of verb;
B: The category of case (2nd part), irregular and reflexives verbs, introduction to the verbal aspect;
C: The main verbs of motion, the main modal verbs, the degrees of adjectives, the numerals (including dates and time), the adverbs. Morphological terminology in Russian language.
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
In part A, after providing the bases of Russian phonetics, the focus will be on the grammatical categories of gender, number and case, on the meaning and on the main uses of nominative, prepositive and accusative with and without prepositions, on the declensions of nouns, adjectives and pronouns in prepositive and accusative. The verb "to be" will be presented, as well as the construction expressing possession, the verbal typology, the times of verbs and the conjugations.
Part B will present the meaning and the main uses of genitive, dative and instrumental cases with and without prepositions. It will also focus the declensions of nouns, adjectives and pronouns in the mentioned cases, as well as reflexive verbs, some irregular verbs, the phenomenon of consonant alternation, the perfective and imperfect aspect of the verb (only in relation to result and process).
In part C will be analyzed the meaning of the main verbs of motion (without prefixes), the regency of some verbs, the use and meaning of the most frequent prepositions. The main modal verbs, the degrees of adjectives, the cardinal and ordinal numbers, the expression of dates and hours and the adverbs will be explained. Russian morphological terminology will be given.
The course program is valid until the end of September 2025.
A: The bases of Russian phonetics, the case (1st part), introduction to the category of verb;
B: The category of case (2nd part), irregular and reflexives verbs, introduction to the verbal aspect;
C: The main verbs of motion, the main modal verbs, the degrees of adjectives, the numerals (including dates and time), the adverbs. Morphological terminology in Russian language.
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
In part A, after providing the bases of Russian phonetics, the focus will be on the grammatical categories of gender, number and case, on the meaning and on the main uses of nominative, prepositive and accusative with and without prepositions, on the declensions of nouns, adjectives and pronouns in prepositive and accusative. The verb "to be" will be presented, as well as the construction expressing possession, the verbal typology, the times of verbs and the conjugations.
Part B will present the meaning and the main uses of genitive, dative and instrumental cases with and without prepositions. It will also focus the declensions of nouns, adjectives and pronouns in the mentioned cases, as well as reflexive verbs, some irregular verbs, the phenomenon of consonant alternation, the perfective and imperfect aspect of the verb (only in relation to result and process).
In part C will be analyzed the meaning of the main verbs of motion (without prefixes), the regency of some verbs, the use and meaning of the most frequent prepositions. The main modal verbs, the degrees of adjectives, the cardinal and ordinal numbers, the expression of dates and hours and the adverbs will be explained. Russian morphological terminology will be given.
The course program is valid until the end of September 2025.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is needed.
Teaching methods
The course will be based on lecturers.
The topics will be presented from a theorical point of view; example ad exercises will be proposed. The topics will be analyzed in texts (10 pages will be analyzed in class and 30 by the students as self-work).
Part of the course will develop the basic Russian lexicon starting from texts analyzed in the class.
The course is integrated with practical classes for which students are invited to refer to the specific form.
The topics will be presented from a theorical point of view; example ad exercises will be proposed. The topics will be analyzed in texts (10 pages will be analyzed in class and 30 by the students as self-work).
Part of the course will develop the basic Russian lexicon starting from texts analyzed in the class.
The course is integrated with practical classes for which students are invited to refer to the specific form.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the online teaching platform Ariel (https://ariel.unimi.it/), to which you can refer for notices and other materials provided by the teacher.
Bibliography for the monographic course:
1. Slide on the grammar topics covered that will be published on the Ariel platform.
2. Texts that will be used in the classroom and published on the Ariel platform (10 pages).
3. Texts for self-study: 30 pages that will be published on the Ariel platform and will not be used during lecturers.
4. S.A. Chavronina, A.I. Širočenskaja, Il russo. Esercizi, ed. "Russkij jazyk", Moskva, 2007.
5. F. Fici, S. Fedotova, La lingua russa del 2000, vol. 1 (Nuova edizione ampliata), Le Lettere, Firenze, 2008. With reference to this volume, students have to study the following parts:
- First part, chapters from 1st to 15th included (from page 19 to page 79),
- First part, chapter 20 (from page 127 to page 134),
- Forst part, chapter 22 (pages 139, 140).
6. F. Fici, N. Žukova, La lingua russa del 2000, vol. 2 (Grammatica e comunicazione), Le Lettere, Firenze, 2009. With reference to this volume, students have to study the following parts:
- First part: chapter 1 (L'aggettivo), from page 13 to page 31.
Bibliography for the practical classes:
1. Magnati Dario, Legittimo Francesca, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 1, Hoepli, Milano, 2017.
2. Materials that will be provided by the linguistic collaborators who will hold practical classes (the materials will be uploaded on the "Ariel" platform).
3. Dictionary: Vl. Kovalev, Dizionario italiano-russo/russo-italiano con CD, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2014 (not compulsory).
Information for non-attending students:
The program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course.
Bibliography for the monographic course:
1. Slide on the grammar topics covered that will be published on the Ariel platform.
2. Texts that will be used in the classroom and published on the Ariel platform (10 pages).
3. Texts for self-study: 30 pages that will be published on the Ariel platform and will not be used during lecturers.
4. S.A. Chavronina, A.I. Širočenskaja, Il russo. Esercizi, ed. "Russkij jazyk", Moskva, 2007.
5. F. Fici, S. Fedotova, La lingua russa del 2000, vol. 1 (Nuova edizione ampliata), Le Lettere, Firenze, 2008. With reference to this volume, students have to study the following parts:
- First part, chapters from 1st to 15th included (from page 19 to page 79),
- First part, chapter 20 (from page 127 to page 134),
- Forst part, chapter 22 (pages 139, 140).
6. F. Fici, N. Žukova, La lingua russa del 2000, vol. 2 (Grammatica e comunicazione), Le Lettere, Firenze, 2009. With reference to this volume, students have to study the following parts:
- First part: chapter 1 (L'aggettivo), from page 13 to page 31.
Bibliography for the practical classes:
1. Magnati Dario, Legittimo Francesca, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 1, Hoepli, Milano, 2017.
2. Materials that will be provided by the linguistic collaborators who will hold practical classes (the materials will be uploaded on the "Ariel" platform).
3. Dictionary: Vl. Kovalev, Dizionario italiano-russo/russo-italiano con CD, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2014 (not compulsory).
Information for non-attending students:
The program is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Non-attending students are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written and oral exams: the exam consists of a written test and of an oral test. The final grade will be the average of the grades obtained in written and in oral exams, expressed in thirtieths.
The written exam can be taken starting from May 2024 and the oral from June 2024.
Attending students (active participation in at least 80% of lessons and 80% of practical classes) can have access to the partial tests (replacing only the general written test) which take place at the end of the first semester and at the end of the second semester. In this case, the final mark of the written examination is given by the average of the two partial tests of the first and second semesters. In order to take the second partial test, in addition to having attended at least 80% of the lessons and 80% of the practical classes of the second semester, it is essential to have passed the first partial exam. In the event of failing one of the two partial tests, students must take the entire general written examination during the official appeals (June, September, January).
The first partial examination will include:
- Dictation.
- Grammar exercises on the topics covered during the first semester. The exercises will be multiple choice, completion, concordance of the different elements of the sentence.
The second partial examination will include:
- Grammar exercises on the topics dealt with during the second semester. The exercises will be multiple choice, completion, concordance of the different elements of the sentence.
- Translation from Italian into Russian of sentences containing grammatical features studied during the year.
- Reading a text in Russian language and answering multiple choice questions.
- Production of a written text (minimum 100 words) without dictionary. The subject that will be asked to be dealt with in the written composition will presuppose the possibility of using the vocabulary encountered during the exercises.
The general written exam (for those who do not take partial exams or who have not passed one of the two) will consist in carrying out the two tests described above at once.
The oral exam will consist of an interview on focused topics, aimed at ascertaining student's theoretical and practical skills. Specifically, the student has to:
1. conversing in Russian on a topic assigned directly at the exam (the topic will require knowledge of the vocabulary covered during the practical classes),
2. reading a Russian text aloud and reporting the content in Russian language,
3. recognizing and analyzing from the morphological point of view (in Russian) the different elements of the sentence (gender, number and case of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, time and conjugations of verbs etc.),
4. answering questions on grammatical topics focused in the lecturers (this part can be in Italian with examples in Russian).
For the oral exam, in addition to the 10 pages analyzed in class, the student has to prepare other 30 pages that will be made available by the teacher on Ariel platform. The student must be able to read them, present the content and analyze them from morphological point of view.
Language in which the student is required to take the exam: Russian/Italian.
For students attending practical classes (active attendance of at least 80% of practical classes): The above mentioned point 1 (only point 1) of the oral exam (conversation in Russian language) will be replaced of on ongoing evaluation, which will take place during all the year.
During the practical classes, the students will have to prepare and present the works assigned by the teacher and answer to teacher's oral questions. These presentations will be constantly evaluated by the teacher and will contribute to the determination of the final grade of the exam.
The other points of the oral exam (points 2, 3, 4) must be taken regularly in the exam sessions by all students, both attending and non-attending.
Students who do not attend the practical classes (participation in less than 80% of the classes) will also have to carry out point 1 of the oral exam in the normal exam sessions.
The final version of the program will be available on the course web page, on the Ariel online portal for teaching (http://ariel.unimi.it). All students are required to consult it before attending the exam.
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The examination modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
The written exam can be taken starting from May 2024 and the oral from June 2024.
Attending students (active participation in at least 80% of lessons and 80% of practical classes) can have access to the partial tests (replacing only the general written test) which take place at the end of the first semester and at the end of the second semester. In this case, the final mark of the written examination is given by the average of the two partial tests of the first and second semesters. In order to take the second partial test, in addition to having attended at least 80% of the lessons and 80% of the practical classes of the second semester, it is essential to have passed the first partial exam. In the event of failing one of the two partial tests, students must take the entire general written examination during the official appeals (June, September, January).
The first partial examination will include:
- Dictation.
- Grammar exercises on the topics covered during the first semester. The exercises will be multiple choice, completion, concordance of the different elements of the sentence.
The second partial examination will include:
- Grammar exercises on the topics dealt with during the second semester. The exercises will be multiple choice, completion, concordance of the different elements of the sentence.
- Translation from Italian into Russian of sentences containing grammatical features studied during the year.
- Reading a text in Russian language and answering multiple choice questions.
- Production of a written text (minimum 100 words) without dictionary. The subject that will be asked to be dealt with in the written composition will presuppose the possibility of using the vocabulary encountered during the exercises.
The general written exam (for those who do not take partial exams or who have not passed one of the two) will consist in carrying out the two tests described above at once.
The oral exam will consist of an interview on focused topics, aimed at ascertaining student's theoretical and practical skills. Specifically, the student has to:
1. conversing in Russian on a topic assigned directly at the exam (the topic will require knowledge of the vocabulary covered during the practical classes),
2. reading a Russian text aloud and reporting the content in Russian language,
3. recognizing and analyzing from the morphological point of view (in Russian) the different elements of the sentence (gender, number and case of nouns, adjectives, pronouns, time and conjugations of verbs etc.),
4. answering questions on grammatical topics focused in the lecturers (this part can be in Italian with examples in Russian).
For the oral exam, in addition to the 10 pages analyzed in class, the student has to prepare other 30 pages that will be made available by the teacher on Ariel platform. The student must be able to read them, present the content and analyze them from morphological point of view.
Language in which the student is required to take the exam: Russian/Italian.
For students attending practical classes (active attendance of at least 80% of practical classes): The above mentioned point 1 (only point 1) of the oral exam (conversation in Russian language) will be replaced of on ongoing evaluation, which will take place during all the year.
During the practical classes, the students will have to prepare and present the works assigned by the teacher and answer to teacher's oral questions. These presentations will be constantly evaluated by the teacher and will contribute to the determination of the final grade of the exam.
The other points of the oral exam (points 2, 3, 4) must be taken regularly in the exam sessions by all students, both attending and non-attending.
Students who do not attend the practical classes (participation in less than 80% of the classes) will also have to carry out point 1 of the oral exam in the normal exam sessions.
The final version of the program will be available on the course web page, on the Ariel online portal for teaching (http://ariel.unimi.it). All students are required to consult it before attending the exam.
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The examination modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment. Students have to write to the teacher to agree the date and the time of appointment.
Online on Microsoft Teams platform (team code iknbobe).