Workload: 72 hours (contact work; independent learning, final assessment)
Mode of study: full-time
Relevance and purpose of the course
The course is aimed at a consistent,organized in several stages, development of foreign students' communication skills. At the first stage, students are assumed to get acquainted with Russia and other countries as compared to their native location, learn the Russian alphabet and reading rules. At the next stage, the Russian language acquisition procedes on thematic content related to animals and plants, typical both of Russia and the students' country. Comparative study of seasons and the seasonal inherent traditions in Russia and in the students' countries of the listeners becomes special. At the third stage, the Russian language is learnt with in the topics Friends and Hobbies, which un fold in the dialogue of cultures, i.e.comparing traditional Russian hobbies with those in the students' countries.
Thus, step-by-step teaching will launch the process of learning the Russian language and Russian culture quickly, on a tight schedule. Adapted texts of no more than 150 words, thematically covering socio-cultural spheres in accordance with the course topics, are offered. Skills are developed through a series of standard tasks (a system of questions, guessing the meanings of unknown words, analyzing etiquette formulas and speech patterns, etc.).
As a result, while doing the course, students will gain information about Russia and the Russian language, learn how to compare cultural phenomena with similar ones of their own country.
List of main topics / sections:
Topic 1. Hi, I'm from Russia! Where are you from?
Topic 2. In Africa, rivers are this wide
Topic 3. Animal life
Topic 4. Nature has no bad weather
Topic 5. Let me introduce my friends
Topic 6. What are your plans for the weekend?
Topic 7. In the city and in the countryside
Topic 8. Holiday!
Topic 9. My house, my street
Independent studying involves working with additional materials. Listening to audio, watching videos and completing tasks based on the video scripts, preparing short talks on course topics via someaids, and preparing slide presentations by templates.
Forms of classroom work:
Traditional forms
· practical classes
Non-game forms, forms of problem-based learning
· project method
· discussions
· technology of critical thinking development
· brainstorming
Interactive and active forms
· story-based role-playing games
· didactic games
· technology of learning in collaboration
· case method
Final assessment is a mandatory component of the course. It involves monitoring the formation of language and speech skills via a reflexive slide presentation on a certain topic studied during the course with a follow-up discussion.
Upon completion of the course, each student receives a certificate established by the University, confirming successful completion of the educational program.