Russian 3
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at third-year BA students of the degree course in Foreign Languages and Literature. It is divided into theoretical lessons, held by the course lecturer and aimed at providing students with the notions of Russian language and linguistics, and practical language classes, held by linguistic collaborators and aimed at acquiring practical skills in the Russian language. Year-long, the course supposes the acquisition of written and oral communication skills, with the related syntactic, morphological and lexical knowledge, corresponding to the third level (B1) of the official standard established by the Council of Europe for knowledge of foreign languages.
Expected learning outcomes
The knowledge that the course intends to offer mainly concerns the syntax of the Russian sentence: the student must be able to recognize at first sight the structure of any sentence, analyze and explain the functioning of the morphological categories therein. In particular, students will be provided with the concepts necessary for the analysis of the communicative structure of the statement and highlighted the main mechanisms for the expression of the communicative structure in Russian: the information structure and intonative constructions, the relationship between the communicative structure, the syntactic one and the word order. The knowledge of the structure of the actants of the verb and of the correspondence between the semantic roles, the syntactic ones and the morphological cases will be deepened. Then the complex sentence will be addressed: the criteria and types of subordination will be exposed, and the most frequent models in written and spoken Russian (constructions) will be analyzed. Furthermore, the tools of textual cohesion in the written and spoken Russian text will be analyzed: the discursive words, the collocations, the typical syntactic strategies adopted in Russian texts. Finally, a part of the course will be dedicated to the consolidation of translation skills, especially where there is no correspondence between Russian and Italian syntactic structures, and therefore to the practice of translation from Italian into Russian.
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 is entitled "The syntax of the simple and complex sentence in Russian" and lasts 60 hours. It provides 9 CFU; it is not possible to acquire only 6 CFU. For this reason, students will stick to the whole syllabus. The programme is valid until the end of September 2028.
The course has a MyAriel website, to which students are required to refer for all teaching and learning materials and official communications: Course: Russian Language 3 (LT) (a.y. 2026/27) | myAriel
The course is the final part of a three-year, unified, and coherent programme that aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the morphology and syntax of simple and complex sentences in Russian. It is designed to enable students to achieve a level of communication equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. All the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous two years contribute to forming the skills necessary to tackle the content presented in the third year successfully.
The course is divided into three parts, which will be covered in sequence.
Part A
· The structure of the simple sentence: means of expressing the subject and predicate; agreement between subject and predicate. Secondary members of the clause: means of expressing attributes (agreed and unagreed) and complements (direct, indirect, circumstantial).
· The different types of simple sentences: affirmative, negative, exclamatory, declarative, exhortative, and elliptical.
· Active and passive participles. Verbal and adjectival characteristics of the participle. Formation and use of the active participle (present and past). Formation and use of the passive participle (present and past). Formation of the long and short forms of the passive past participle.
· The participle construction. Replacement of relative clauses introduced by kotoryj with participle constructions.
· Passive forms.
· Personal (definite, indefinite and generalised) and impersonal sentences.
Part B
· Coordination. Coordinated clauses with copulative, disjunctive and adversative conjunctions.
· Subordination. Explanatory subordinate clauses: objective and subjective subordinate clauses; indirect interrogative clauses. Use of the demonstrative pronoun 'TO' in the main clause. Direct and indirect speech.
· Relative clauses introduced by gde, kuda, otkuda, kogda, čej, kakoj, začem.
· Expression of time in simple and complex sentences.
Part C
· Expressing cause in simple and complex sentences.
· Expressing concession in simple and complex sentences.
· Expressing conditions in simple and complex sentences. The hypothetical period.
· Expressing purpose in simple and complex sentences.
· Modal subordinate clauses with comparative meaning.
Warnings
The final version of the syllabus will be available on the course's MyAriel website. All students are required to consult it before taking the exam.
The syllabus for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Non-attending students should contact the lecturer as soon as possible to clarify doubts about the syllabus and exam procedures.
Russian-speaking students who wish to do so may replace the bibliography in Italian with materials in Russian. In this case, they are requested to contact the lecturer as soon as possible to arrange a replacement bibliography.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the course lecturer as soon as possible.
Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the course lecturer and the University Disability Office.
The course has a MyAriel website, to which students are required to refer for all teaching and learning materials and official communications: Course: Russian Language 3 (LT) (a.y. 2026/27) | myAriel
The course is the final part of a three-year, unified, and coherent programme that aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the morphology and syntax of simple and complex sentences in Russian. It is designed to enable students to achieve a level of communication equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. All the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous two years contribute to forming the skills necessary to tackle the content presented in the third year successfully.
The course is divided into three parts, which will be covered in sequence.
Part A
· The structure of the simple sentence: means of expressing the subject and predicate; agreement between subject and predicate. Secondary members of the clause: means of expressing attributes (agreed and unagreed) and complements (direct, indirect, circumstantial).
· The different types of simple sentences: affirmative, negative, exclamatory, declarative, exhortative, and elliptical.
· Active and passive participles. Verbal and adjectival characteristics of the participle. Formation and use of the active participle (present and past). Formation and use of the passive participle (present and past). Formation of the long and short forms of the passive past participle.
· The participle construction. Replacement of relative clauses introduced by kotoryj with participle constructions.
· Passive forms.
· Personal (definite, indefinite and generalised) and impersonal sentences.
Part B
· Coordination. Coordinated clauses with copulative, disjunctive and adversative conjunctions.
· Subordination. Explanatory subordinate clauses: objective and subjective subordinate clauses; indirect interrogative clauses. Use of the demonstrative pronoun 'TO' in the main clause. Direct and indirect speech.
· Relative clauses introduced by gde, kuda, otkuda, kogda, čej, kakoj, začem.
· Expression of time in simple and complex sentences.
Part C
· Expressing cause in simple and complex sentences.
· Expressing concession in simple and complex sentences.
· Expressing conditions in simple and complex sentences. The hypothetical period.
· Expressing purpose in simple and complex sentences.
· Modal subordinate clauses with comparative meaning.
Warnings
The final version of the syllabus will be available on the course's MyAriel website. All students are required to consult it before taking the exam.
The syllabus for non-attending students is unchanged from that for attending students. Non-attending students should contact the lecturer as soon as possible to clarify doubts about the syllabus and exam procedures.
Russian-speaking students who wish to do so may replace the bibliography in Italian with materials in Russian. In this case, they are requested to contact the lecturer as soon as possible to arrange a replacement bibliography.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the course lecturer as soon as possible.
Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the course lecturer and the University Disability Office.
Prerequisites for admission
Lectures are delivered mainly in Russian. The teaching and learning materials require an A2 level of proficiency.
Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2 are prerequisites for Russian Language 3.
Students who have not passed the Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2 exams cannot take any of the Russian Language 3 assessments.
Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2 are prerequisites for Russian Language 3.
Students who have not passed the Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2 exams cannot take any of the Russian Language 3 assessments.
Teaching methods
The course will be delivered in Alpha mode, meaning that it will be conducted entirely in person. It will be based on face-to-face lectures.
Topics will be addressed theoretically, supported by examples, and analysed within texts. Multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence transformation, translation, and production tasks will be offered.
The course will be held mainly in Russian.
In addition, the course is supplemented by practical language classes, for which please refer to the appropriate page: Linguistic exercises - Russian language | University of Milan State University.
Topics will be addressed theoretically, supported by examples, and analysed within texts. Multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence transformation, translation, and production tasks will be offered.
The course will be held mainly in Russian.
In addition, the course is supplemented by practical language classes, for which please refer to the appropriate page: Linguistic exercises - Russian language | University of Milan State University.
Teaching Resources
Lectures (corso monografico)
1. All uploaded materials on the MyAriel website.
2. O. Bejenari, F. Legittimo, D. Magnati, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 3: corso di lingua e cultura russa. Hoepli, Milano, 2020. Limited to the following parts:
Lesson 1: pp. 8-18.
Lesson 2: pp. 70-73.
Lesson 3: pp. 118-123.
Lesson 4: pp. 149-153, 157-162.
Lesson 5: pp. 188-196.
3. G. Cevese, Ju. Dobrovolskaja, Sintassi russa. Teoria ed esercizi. Milano, Hoepli, 2005.
4. F. Fici Giusti, L. Gebert, S. Signorini, "Il sintagma nominale. La frase semplice" in La lingua russa. Storia, struttura, tipologia. Roma, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1991, pp.111-233. (The book is available in the university library system. If you have difficulty finding it, please get in touch with the lecturer in advance.)
5. V. Kovalev, Il Kovalev. Dizionario russo-italiano, italiano-russo. Bologna, Zanichelli, 2020 (not compulsory).
Exercises (see also the relevant web page): Linguistic exercises - Russian language | University of Milan Statale
1. N. Nikitina, Eserciziario di russo. Livello B1+. Hoepli, Milano 2020 (Seconda edizione). Limited to the following part:
Capitolo 1: Uso dei numerali.
Capitolo 5: L'indicazione del tempo con e senza preposizioni.
Capitolo 9: Il participio. Livello base.
Capitolo 10: Come esprimere il passivo.
Capitolo 11: I participi attivi e passivi. Livello intermedio.
Capitolo 12: Il gerundio.
2. O. Bejenari, F. Legittimo, D. Magnati, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 3: corso di lingua e cultura russa. Hoepli, Milano, 2020. Limited to the following parts:
Lesson 1: pp. 2-8; 28; 32-33; 36-38.
Lesson 2: pp. 40-49; 67-70; 73-74.
Lesson 3: pp. 86-93; 116-117;123-125;128-130;131-134.
Lesson 4: pp. 142-148; 155-156; 166; 167-168; 171-178.
Lesson 5: pp. 180-188; 199-201; 203-204; 205.
3. All uploaded materials on the MyAriel website.
1. All uploaded materials on the MyAriel website.
2. O. Bejenari, F. Legittimo, D. Magnati, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 3: corso di lingua e cultura russa. Hoepli, Milano, 2020. Limited to the following parts:
Lesson 1: pp. 8-18.
Lesson 2: pp. 70-73.
Lesson 3: pp. 118-123.
Lesson 4: pp. 149-153, 157-162.
Lesson 5: pp. 188-196.
3. G. Cevese, Ju. Dobrovolskaja, Sintassi russa. Teoria ed esercizi. Milano, Hoepli, 2005.
4. F. Fici Giusti, L. Gebert, S. Signorini, "Il sintagma nominale. La frase semplice" in La lingua russa. Storia, struttura, tipologia. Roma, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1991, pp.111-233. (The book is available in the university library system. If you have difficulty finding it, please get in touch with the lecturer in advance.)
5. V. Kovalev, Il Kovalev. Dizionario russo-italiano, italiano-russo. Bologna, Zanichelli, 2020 (not compulsory).
Exercises (see also the relevant web page): Linguistic exercises - Russian language | University of Milan Statale
1. N. Nikitina, Eserciziario di russo. Livello B1+. Hoepli, Milano 2020 (Seconda edizione). Limited to the following part:
Capitolo 1: Uso dei numerali.
Capitolo 5: L'indicazione del tempo con e senza preposizioni.
Capitolo 9: Il participio. Livello base.
Capitolo 10: Come esprimere il passivo.
Capitolo 11: I participi attivi e passivi. Livello intermedio.
Capitolo 12: Il gerundio.
2. O. Bejenari, F. Legittimo, D. Magnati, Davajte! Comunicare in russo 3: corso di lingua e cultura russa. Hoepli, Milano, 2020. Limited to the following parts:
Lesson 1: pp. 2-8; 28; 32-33; 36-38.
Lesson 2: pp. 40-49; 67-70; 73-74.
Lesson 3: pp. 86-93; 116-117;123-125;128-130;131-134.
Lesson 4: pp. 142-148; 155-156; 166; 167-168; 171-178.
Lesson 5: pp. 180-188; 199-201; 203-204; 205.
3. All uploaded materials on the MyAriel website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The instructor will assess students' ability to write and speak accurately in Russian, to apply correctly the grammatical structures and lexical fields covered in the lecture course and language practice classes in both written and spoken language, and to demonstrate these skills both in completing language exercises and in the comprehension and independent production of texts.
The examination consists of a written examination and an oral examination. The written examination is graded on a 30-point scale, and its mark is averaged with the mark obtained in the oral examination. The final grade may be officially recorded only after the student has successfully passed both the written and the oral examinations.
Please note that students may not take any part of the Russian Language 3 examination until they have successfully completed and officially registered the examinations in Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2.
Written Examination
The written examination may be taken from the end of the course onwards, starting in May 2027. The oral examination may be taken from June 2027. The written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination; students may therefore take the oral examination before completing the written one.
To pass the written examination, students must obtain a passing mark in each of its components.
The written examination consists of:
- A grammar test including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
- Translation of a passage from Italian into Russian using a bilingual dictionary. Only printed (paper) bilingual dictionaries are permitted.
- A summary in Russian of a text read aloud by the instructor (without the use of a dictionary).
The written examination will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- accuracy of morphology, syntax, and vocabulary;
- coherence and cohesion of the text;
- appropriate use of register.
Attending Students
Students who attend actively at least 80% of the total number of lecture and language practice hours may take the midterm examinations, which replace only the comprehensive written examination.
The first midterm takes place at the end of the first semester, and the second at the end of the second semester. The final written examination mark is calculated as the average of the two midterm marks.
To be admitted to the second midterm, students must:
have attended at least 80% of the lecture course and language practice classes during the second semester; and
have passed the first midterm examination.
Students who fail either midterm examination must take the complete written examination during one of the official examination sessions (May, September, or January).
Students may decline the mark awarded for the midterm examinations. In that case, they must take the complete written examination during one of the official examination sessions.
First Midterm Examination
- Grammar test covering the topics taught during the first semester, including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
Second Midterm Examination
- Grammar test covering the topics taught during the second semester, including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
- Translation of a passage from Italian into Russian using a bilingual dictionary. Only printed (paper) bilingual dictionaries are permitted.
- A summary in Russian of a text read aloud by the instructor (without the use of a dictionary).
Oral Examination
The purpose of the oral examination is to assess students' theoretical knowledge and communicative competence with regard to the topics covered in both the lecture course and the language practice classes. All materials published on MyAriel and listed in the compulsory bibliography may be included in the examination.
The oral examination consists of the following components:
1. Conversation in Russian
Students will take part in a conversation in Russian on one of the topics covered during the language practice classes. They are expected to demonstrate the ability to describe places and people, narrate events, and express opinions using appropriately the vocabulary and morphosyntactic structures studied during the course.
2. Assessment of Independent Study
At the beginning of the course, a series of texts will be published on MyAriel for independent study throughout the academic year.
The assessment, conducted entirely in Russian, consists of:
- a summary in Russian of one of the assigned texts selected by the instructor;
- reading aloud a passage selected by the instructor, demonstrating fluent reading and correct word stress. Serious pronunciation or stress errors that prevent fluent reading will result in the examination being discontinued;
- translation into Italian of a passage from one of the assigned texts;
- syntactic analysis following the model used during classroom instruction.
3. Theoretical Questions
Questions on the grammatical topics covered during the lecture course and on the compulsory bibliography. This part of the examination may be conducted in Italian with regard to the Italian-language bibliography and in Russian with regard to the Russian-language bibliography.
The oral examination is considered passed only if the student obtains a positive assessment in both the Russian conversation component and the lecture-course component.
Continuous Oral Assessment
Students who attend at least 80% of the language practice classes may, if they wish, replace only Component 1 (Conversation) with a continuous oral assessment conducted throughout the academic year.
During the language practice classes, students are expected to participate actively in classroom discussions and to prepare and present the assignments set by the language instructor.
Class participation and independent work will be assessed continuously using the following grades: Fail, Satisfactory, Fair, Good, Excellent. This assessment contributes to the final examination grade.
The result of the continuous oral assessment will be communicated to students in the middle and at the end of each semester and may be declined. In that case, students must complete the Conversation component (Component 1) according to the procedures described below.
Students who receive a Fail in the continuous assessment must likewise complete the Conversation component (Component 1).
Students who have not received a continuous oral assessment must take the Conversation component with the native-speaker language instructor according to a schedule that will be announced at the beginning of the course.
To register for this assessment, students must contact the course instructor no later than one week before the scheduled date, indicating both the chosen examination date (among those offered by the instructor) and the course year for which they intend to take the examination. Students who subsequently decide not to attend must notify the course instructor at least 24 hours in advance.
The Conversation component may be taken only during the same examination session in which the student also takes the lecture-course oral examination. If the student does not pass the lecture-course component during that examination session, the Conversation component must also be repeated.
All students will take Components 2 and 3 during the regular examination sessions (June-July, September, and January-February).
The examination consists of a written examination and an oral examination. The written examination is graded on a 30-point scale, and its mark is averaged with the mark obtained in the oral examination. The final grade may be officially recorded only after the student has successfully passed both the written and the oral examinations.
Please note that students may not take any part of the Russian Language 3 examination until they have successfully completed and officially registered the examinations in Russian Language 2 and Russian Literature 2.
Written Examination
The written examination may be taken from the end of the course onwards, starting in May 2027. The oral examination may be taken from June 2027. The written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination; students may therefore take the oral examination before completing the written one.
To pass the written examination, students must obtain a passing mark in each of its components.
The written examination consists of:
- A grammar test including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
- Translation of a passage from Italian into Russian using a bilingual dictionary. Only printed (paper) bilingual dictionaries are permitted.
- A summary in Russian of a text read aloud by the instructor (without the use of a dictionary).
The written examination will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- accuracy of morphology, syntax, and vocabulary;
- coherence and cohesion of the text;
- appropriate use of register.
Attending Students
Students who attend actively at least 80% of the total number of lecture and language practice hours may take the midterm examinations, which replace only the comprehensive written examination.
The first midterm takes place at the end of the first semester, and the second at the end of the second semester. The final written examination mark is calculated as the average of the two midterm marks.
To be admitted to the second midterm, students must:
have attended at least 80% of the lecture course and language practice classes during the second semester; and
have passed the first midterm examination.
Students who fail either midterm examination must take the complete written examination during one of the official examination sessions (May, September, or January).
Students may decline the mark awarded for the midterm examinations. In that case, they must take the complete written examination during one of the official examination sessions.
First Midterm Examination
- Grammar test covering the topics taught during the first semester, including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
Second Midterm Examination
- Grammar test covering the topics taught during the second semester, including multiple-choice, gap-filling, transformation exercises, and theoretical questions.
- Translation of a passage from Italian into Russian using a bilingual dictionary. Only printed (paper) bilingual dictionaries are permitted.
- A summary in Russian of a text read aloud by the instructor (without the use of a dictionary).
Oral Examination
The purpose of the oral examination is to assess students' theoretical knowledge and communicative competence with regard to the topics covered in both the lecture course and the language practice classes. All materials published on MyAriel and listed in the compulsory bibliography may be included in the examination.
The oral examination consists of the following components:
1. Conversation in Russian
Students will take part in a conversation in Russian on one of the topics covered during the language practice classes. They are expected to demonstrate the ability to describe places and people, narrate events, and express opinions using appropriately the vocabulary and morphosyntactic structures studied during the course.
2. Assessment of Independent Study
At the beginning of the course, a series of texts will be published on MyAriel for independent study throughout the academic year.
The assessment, conducted entirely in Russian, consists of:
- a summary in Russian of one of the assigned texts selected by the instructor;
- reading aloud a passage selected by the instructor, demonstrating fluent reading and correct word stress. Serious pronunciation or stress errors that prevent fluent reading will result in the examination being discontinued;
- translation into Italian of a passage from one of the assigned texts;
- syntactic analysis following the model used during classroom instruction.
3. Theoretical Questions
Questions on the grammatical topics covered during the lecture course and on the compulsory bibliography. This part of the examination may be conducted in Italian with regard to the Italian-language bibliography and in Russian with regard to the Russian-language bibliography.
The oral examination is considered passed only if the student obtains a positive assessment in both the Russian conversation component and the lecture-course component.
Continuous Oral Assessment
Students who attend at least 80% of the language practice classes may, if they wish, replace only Component 1 (Conversation) with a continuous oral assessment conducted throughout the academic year.
During the language practice classes, students are expected to participate actively in classroom discussions and to prepare and present the assignments set by the language instructor.
Class participation and independent work will be assessed continuously using the following grades: Fail, Satisfactory, Fair, Good, Excellent. This assessment contributes to the final examination grade.
The result of the continuous oral assessment will be communicated to students in the middle and at the end of each semester and may be declined. In that case, students must complete the Conversation component (Component 1) according to the procedures described below.
Students who receive a Fail in the continuous assessment must likewise complete the Conversation component (Component 1).
Students who have not received a continuous oral assessment must take the Conversation component with the native-speaker language instructor according to a schedule that will be announced at the beginning of the course.
To register for this assessment, students must contact the course instructor no later than one week before the scheduled date, indicating both the chosen examination date (among those offered by the instructor) and the course year for which they intend to take the examination. Students who subsequently decide not to attend must notify the course instructor at least 24 hours in advance.
The Conversation component may be taken only during the same examination session in which the student also takes the lecture-course oral examination. If the student does not pass the lecture-course component during that examination session, the Conversation component must also be repeated.
All students will take Components 2 and 3 during the regular examination sessions (June-July, September, and January-February).
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours