Russian 2 (US)

This course continues the work of Russian 1, building on skills in an introduction to modern Russian. Students will build on a foundation to communicate in written and oral forms. It is rigorous but also allows time to linger with the richness and beauty brought to the language by its historical and cultural context. The class is creatively tailored to move systematically through additional and more complicated building blocks of Russian with a combination of explicit grammatical explanation and active conversation among all students.

At least 50% of each lesson is conducted in Russian, so that in-class repetition and exploration of new concepts engage the students’ senses. Materials include casual Russian conversation, art as visual aids, reading simple texts, Russian Orthodox hymns, poetry or prayer memorization, and even Russian recipes. Written homework will be required to allow for quiet contemplation and further reinforcement of the new material. Oral and written quizzes will be administered periodically during the class period to determine mastery. Each semester will end with an engaging creative project involving either research or a creative group project. Students in the class get to know each other and build a love and knowledge of the Russian language together.

Though demanding and challenging, the course holds promise for students to experience the wonder and delight of discovery, beauty, and a sense of great accomplishment.

In the course, students will learn how to:

• Memorize and understand new Russian vocabulary
• Build on knowledge of conjugation of Russian verbs
• Build on knowledge and use of grammatical cases and tenses
• Build conversational skills for formal and informal settings
• Appreciate aspects of Russian culture and history that are embedded in the language, especially those related to Russian Orthodox tradition
• Build stronger reading skills

View the SRS Russian Curriculum Map

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.