COURSE REQUIREMENTS
RUSSIAN 1010
Fall 2015
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an elementary Russian course with an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, as well as
Russian culture. The aim of this course is to facilitate an introduction and basic understanding of Russian language and ways
of life. In addition, the course will enable students to communicate in Russian for everyday purposes and to lay a solid
foundation for further study of the language and culture. This course will provide an introduction to the Cyrillic alphabet (in
which students will learn to write in cursive), along with necessary grammar, phonetics and pronunciation, and several
hundred words of vocabulary. Also in order to introduce and reproduce the social and cultural background of Russian,
audio, and video material will be used in class along with the lecture. This class will be evaluated through student homework,
quizzes, tests, and in-class participation.
This course fulfills the Human Culture (H) requirement of the 2015 University Studies Program. Human Culture (H)
courses will help students understand human behaviors, activities, ideas, and values in different situations and contexts.
Human Culture (H) courses will also develop and promote critical and creative thinking skills through active learning, inquiry
of pressing issues, and individual and collaborative processing of ideas.
TEXTBOOKS:
Required:
Golosa: Book I, 5th edition, (Textbook), Robin, Evans-Romaine, Shatalina. Pearson.
Golosa: Book I, 5th edition, (Student Activities Manual), Robin, Evans-Romaine, Shatalina. Pearson.
Recommended:
English Grammar for Students of Russian, Cruise. The Olivia and Hill Press, Inc.
INTERACTIVE MATERIALS:
Required: MyRussianLab (online companion to Golosa Textbook & SAM)
Recommended (Golosa website): http://www.gwu.edu/~slavic/golosa/
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
mp3 player, iPod, Zune, flash drive, recordable CDs, etc. (according to personal preference)
GRADING SYSTEM:
25% = Homework (50% written/50% online)
15% = Quizzes
33% = Exams
15% = Daily Performance/Participation/Attendance
12% = Final Examination
GRADING SCALE:
93%-100% = A, 90%-92%=A88%-89% = B+, 83%-87%=B, 80%-82%=B78-79% = C+, 70-77%=C
60%-69%=D
0-59% = F
OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand and use basic Russian grammar.
2. Develop oral and aural proficiency for survival communication in Russian.
3. Write in cursive Cyrillic and use 400-500 words and expressions from day-to-day life.
4. Read printed Cyrillic (in contrast to writing cursive Cyrillic).
5. Examine values about Russian culture and the place of Russia in the world.
6. Explain human ideas and experiences and how they influence societies, human behavior, and human-social
interactions.
7. Examine the role of diversity in human societies, and how diversity impacts global change.
8. Access diverse information through focused research, active discussion, and collaboration with peers.
9. Recognize and synthesize multiple perspectives to develop innovative viewpoints.
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION
Except for excused absences attendance is mandatory. Since repetition is the mother of learning, especially in foreign
language acquisition, it is essential for you to attend class faithfully. An excessive number of absences will work against your
learning Russian (or any foreign language, for that matter), and against your successful completion of this course.
4 unexcused absences reduce your final grade by one full letter grade (an A becomes B, B- becomes C-); 8 absences by
two full letter grades; and any more than that number constitute evidence that you have abandoned the course. Please trust
that this policy will be enforced! Excused absences are those necessitated by university-sponsored activities. Absences of an
acute personal, family, or medical nature are also generally acceptable. When an absence can be foreseen, it is best to inform
the instructor in advance so that appropriate plans can be made concerning make-up quizzes, homework, and, if necessary,
private tutoring on missed topics.
These are key elements of in-class participation and preparation by which this course component is evaluated:
–Demonstrating knowledge of new vocabulary and grammatical structures.
–Demonstrating mastery of vocabulary and structures learned in previous chapters.
--Demonstrating emerging cultural competence and sensitivity.
–Figuring out and working with new material presented in class.
–Using the Russian you know and not speaking English.
–Actively participating with partners and in small groups.
–Volunteering during class.
–Learning from your mistakes.
TESTS AND QUIZZES
During each unit there will be a written vocabulary quiz to check on assimilation, and as a motivation to prepare for the
upcoming chapter exam. There are several hourly exams during the semester that may include both a written and a listening
component. The student must inform the instructor in advance of any exam that will be missed to be eligible for a make-up.
The Unit 5 vocabulary quiz will occur during the final week of classes (UniReg 403 Revision 2). There will be a final exam
and this will be given during the regularly scheduled exam period at the end of the semester.
HOMEWORK (see also supplementary info concerning online MyRussianLab on separate sheet)
Assignments are given regularly to promote steady growth and to gauge progress. For each hour of in-class work an
average of two to three hours of work outside of class is typically required for mastery of the given material. Homework
consists of listening to audio and completing exercises either in the Textbook, Student Activities Manual (SAM), or online
MyRussianLab. Returned written homework is marked with either “2-checks” or “1-check”. “2-checks” indicates
satisfactory completion of assignment. “1-check” indicates unsatisfactory completion. “1-checks” may be resubmitted (on a
separate sheet) for upgrade to “2-checks.” Written homework is due by the end of the class period following the day it is
assigned. Late homework assignments are subject to half-credit reduction. Partially completed assignments may
receive 0 checks. Online MyRussianLab assignments are due by midnight (11:59 p.m.) of the day they are assigned. To
receive credit for online assignments they must be completed by the due date! No late assignments will be accepted
once the corresponding unit exam has been taken.
Aural/oral homework with an audio player (computer, iPod, CD-player, etc.) consists of two activities: imitating what
you hear and responding to questions you hear. There are pauses in the audio recordings, during which you should have
ample time to respond. If you cannot respond within the time provided, continue practicing the exercise on your own before
trying again. Continue until you are able to answer easily and automatically. The audio materials for a given unit begin with
Text exercises, after which follow exercises from the Student Activities Manual. The exercises should be practiced until you can
say them smoothly, without hesitations, and with the proper intonation, just as an actor learns and performs roles for the
stage.
Written homework is primarily conveyed to the instructor in cursive (script) form. This means that clear, legible writing
in Russian (Cyrillic) script is absolutely essential for success in this course. If you cannot already write legibly in English
script, you will need to overcome this disadvantage and develop good handwriting as we progress through the Russian
alphabet. It is your responsibility to attend to this important aspect of mastering Russian language. If necessary, seek out
assistance in English script writing with UW’s Writing Center (Coe Library, Rm. 302)!
A word to the wise student of Russian: Stay current with homework assignments! It is very easy to quickly dig
yourself into a giant hole by not regularly completing homework assignments and corrections! Playing catch-up in a
foreign language is exceedingly difficult, and being prompt with assigned work is much more beneficial when it comes to
long-term acquisition. Getting behind on homework is the most common reason why students fail this (or for that matter,
any language) class. Once you start missing assignments, it becomes almost impossible to do well on subsequent quizzes and
tests. Not doing homework corrections causes you to repeat mistakes on future assignments and thereby receive a lower
grade. You should do every assignment (and corrections) on time if you wish to receive a good grade in this class.
All homework for Unit 5 must be handed in by the last class session – Thursday – before finals week – in order to receive credit.
ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASS MEETINGS
Recitation sections (4 meetings per week)
Assignments for class meetings may include written translations, grammatical exercises; and oral/aural-type work such as
dialogue memorization, dictation, presentation, and so on. For all class sessions the student is responsible for reading the
“Grammar” sections and for forming relevant questions over them. Much of the grammatical information you will need can
be found in the section “В помощь учащимся”. Also refer to English Grammar for Students of Russian.
Class time will primarily be spent on practice, dialogues, interviews, etc., intended to activate these grammatical, lexical,
and cultural concepts. In class you will be asked to act out dialogues and to perform the exercises. Important: make a very
determined and conscious effort to use the target language (Russian!) as much as possible when asking questions of your
instructor or your fellow students, or when responding to questions. This will help activate the language and give it a real,
functional and meaningful context. Extraneous conversation in English during class time is prohibited! Basically, unless you
need to ask a question for clarification of a grammatical concept, there is no compelling reason to use English in the
classroom.
Remember, speaking Russian means thinking in Russian. Remember, too, that a percentage of your course grade is based
not only on attendance but also on participation (see above, under section on “Attendance/Participation”). Gratuitous use
of English in class will have a negative impact on this course component, as well as make life more difficult for those
students who are attempting to use their Russian. Also keep in mind that learning a new language requires making many
mistakes. Our classroom is a safe, non-threatening place where you can do this. I prefer not to call on students and let
people volunteer when they feel comfortable. (However, if no one volunteers, I’ll be forced to call on students to keep the
pace up.) Make sure to volunteer at least two or three times each day in order to stay current with your
participation/preparation percentage. If you like to volunteer often, please make sure everyone else gets a chance before you
volunteer again. When I introduce new material, please make guesses and try things out. This is how you will learn. Hold off
on asking questions until I finish introducing material. Many times your questions will be answered by the time I finish. If
not, you’ll have time to ask, before we begin working in pairs or groups. Paired and group work is important for the
activation of vocabulary and structures that we encounter in every chapter. You’ll notice that while you’re engaged in paired
and group work I am listening carefully around the room. This is a component of your participation/preparation percentage
of the course.
COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION/ LANGUAGE LAB
The language laboratory is a vital multimedia resource that can aid you significantly in acquiring Russian. Audio CDs,
videos, and computers with high-speed Internet connections are available for your use in the lab, Hoyt 123. (A valid UW
student I.D. is required for use.) To check lab hours: http://www.uwyo.edu/modlang/. Each student is required to spend a
minimum of one (1) hour per week working on audio, video, and computer-based materials. (Do bear in mind, however, one
hour of work is a minimum. For optimum progress, 3-4 hours is a more realistic and proficiency-enhancing number.)
Alternating twenty-minute sessions at each of the listening, viewing, or computer stations are considered maximally efficient
and productive, before the onset of fatigue and the accompanying decline in efficiency. The lab assistants will be glad to
acquaint you with these facilities. From the language lab computers you may, of course, access the MyRussianLab and Golosa
website materials. Also available on the language-lab computers is ROSETTA STONE for Russian language. (Instructions
for accessing the program are available in the language lab.) Be sure to take full advantage of this extremely useful interactive
language program!
You may also work with interactive computer materials at home if you have a compatible operating system and Internet
connection. At present, the University of Wyoming does not assume that all students possess their own PC or have a home
Internet connection. Therefore, properly equipped computers are available for student use in the Hoyt (or Ross) Hall
language laboratory. Additionally, the language lab offers the important benefit of access to a “Russian language informant”
(aka “lab assistant”) — an upper-level student of Russian — who can assist with questions while you are working on new
aspects of Russian language. Check the language lab schedule for the “R” next to the lab assistant’s name. Typically, the
Russian lab assistant is available 7-8 hours per week.
Ongoing practice with pronunciation, intonation, and phonetics is important at all stages of language acquisition. Lab
work in conjunction with these topics is crucial. By enrolling in Russian Phonetics 1005, you may receive one credit hour
for attending 15 TBA sessions of laboratory practice spanning the duration of the semester. More specific info about this
course will be communicated by email and in class. (Please make sure that your preferred email address is in UW’s WyoWeb database,
and then don’t forget to check your email account regularly in order to receive information about this course, and about other Russian-related news!)
ACADEMIC HONESTY
UW Regulation 6-802. The University of Wyoming is built upon a strong foundation of integrity, respect and trust. All
members of the university community have a responsibility to be honest and have the right to expect honesty from others.
Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable to our community and will not be tolerated. Presenting work, either on
homework assignments or on quizzes or tests, that is not your own or is the product of computerized (internet) translation
are considered forms of academic dishonesty. Teachers and students should report suspected violations of standards of
academic honesty to the instructor, department head, or dean. Other University regulations can be found at:
http://www.uwyo.edu/intstudy/courses/academic-dishonesty.pdf.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Early Alert
Early Alert gives students a chance to see a progress report of class grades within the first 4-5 weeks of the semester. In late
September, you will be invited to view your Early Alert report in WYOWEB. When you click on the Students tab in
WYOWEB, you will see Quick Links on the left side bar, go to EARLY ALERT grades. You will see either a P for pass, or a
D or F grade for each of your courses. If you have withdrawn from the class you will see a W. Be sure to talk to your
instructor if you have a D or F grade. Remember, this is a progress report—not a final grade! This is an ideal time to visit
with your instructor and/or your advisor to talk about your options and avenues for support in the class (call 766-2398 for
the Center for Advising & Career Services).
STEP Tutor Center
The STEP Tutor Center in Coe Library offers free evening tutoring for over 40 courses. Visit Coe Library between 6:0010:00pm (Sun. – Thurs.) and see the STEP website for full details about tutoring opportunities and other UW resources:
www.uwyo.edu/STEP.
Student Success Workshops
Come to Coe Library Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. to hear strategies for exam preparation, time management, breaking bad habits,
note taking, and more. Workshops are held in classroom 121 on the lower level of Coe. For a full schedule of workshops, see
http://www.uwyo.edu/studentaff/step/tutoring/workshops.pdf.
Other Important Dates:
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Last day to withdraw from classes: November 13.
Last day to withdraw from the university: November 25.
Advising Week: November 2-6.
TUTORING/SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
If you feel at any time that you cannot comprehend the material presented in class, please make an appointment to see
your instructor for assistance. You may be confident that in almost every case tutoring will effectively eliminate the problem.
Tutoring is also available during regularly scheduled Russian lab hours (depending on availability of qualified student
assistants), and private tutoring is also available from advanced Russian students. Please see instructor for further
information. If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me
know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to,
University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073.
INSTRUCTOR
Joseph Krafczik, Department of Modern and Classical Languages; 252 Crane Hall. Please note that visits by appointment
and drop-ins outside of regular office hours are welcomed and even encouraged. Office hours provide times when I am
definitely available, but these are not the only times you can reach me. Regular office hours will be announced in class and
posted on my office door.
Email: joseph@uwyo.edu; Office phone: 766-6724. My mailbox is in the department mailroom, Crane 119.
The instructor reserves the right to amend, modify, or change the above, including the accompanying syllabus. Students
will be notified of any such changes at the earliest subsequent class meeting.
I have read, and understand, the above information.
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