- Online
- $460
Develop the listening and speaking skills necessary for engaging in simple conversations about daily life. This beginner Russian course is ideal for learners with no prior knowledge of the language. You’ll be introduced to the Russian alphabet (Cyrillic), along with essential vocabulary and foundational grammatical structures for everyday communication.
Learn about culture and daily life in modern Russia while practicing conversation in pairs and small groups. Strengthen your grammar and expand your vocabulary through interactive activities, audio recordings, videos and worksheets.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- read and write the Cyrillic alphabet with basic familiarity
- use greetings appropriate to social situations
- ask and answer simple personal questions
- identify and describe everyday items using demonstratives
- talk about possessions using basic grammatical structures
- order food and beverages in simple situations
Course outline
Week 1: Common greetings and farewells, alphabet, history/geography
Week 2: Challenging sounds, gender in Russian, celebrating traditions
Week 3: Everyday items and objects, possessive forms, art
Week 4: Enriching vocabulary for everyday items, asking basic questions, literature
Week 5: Introducing and describing family and friends, film
Week 6: Food, preferences and opinions, family life
Week 7: Favourite dishes and ingredients, Russian food and influences, cuisine
Week 8: Colours, description, singular and plural forms, Russian space exploration
Week 9: Student presentations, contemporary Russian topics
Expected effort
You can expect to spend about three hours per week attending live, virtual classes and completing course work on your own time. Expect double this amount during the intensive summer term.
Textbook
This course does not require the purchase of a textbook. Course materials are provided by the instructor.
Course format
Each class is two hours in length and includes a 30-minute cultural component delivered through video or presentation, followed by a guided question-and-answer session.
This course is offered online.
Our online conversational courses offer a virtual classroom experience where you can see and interact with your teacher and classmates over Zoom. Log in at a set time to participate in individual, pair and group work, ask questions and receive feedback from your instructor.
Learn more about online learning at Extended Learning.
How am I assessed?
This is a non-credit course without letter or numerical grades. You receive verbal feedback on your conversation and grammar skills from your instructor during class. Written homework is typically corrected in class. Some lesson modules may include quizzes.
Record of completion
Students who have successfully completed a course can access completion documents two weeks after the course ends. Course completion means 80% attendance and/or 80% completion of mandatory assignments.
Technology requirements
You’ll need a computer or tablet with a video camera and a microphone, access to the internet, an email account and an up-to-date web browser. The day before your course starts, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the course.