In the 1st year of Russian (Slavic 1-2-3), students study the sound system and basic grammatical structure of the language as they become acquainted with contemporary Russian culture and learn to communicate on a wide variety of topics. The 2nd year (Slavic 4-5-6) focuses on expansion of vocabulary for oral and written communication, refinement of listening skills, and development of basic reading and writing with an introduction to grammatical forms used in the literary language. Third-year Russian (Slavic 101A-B-C) surveys many aspects of contemporary and historical Russian culture through a variety of texts and films, focusing on further development of reading, writing, and oral communication skills.

SLAVIC 1-2-3: Introductory Russian
Introductory Russian is a comprehensive introduction to the Russian language with a focus on developing basic communicative skills (speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing) within the framework of contemporary Russian culture. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with basic grammar and vocabulary at home so that class time can be spent using the language and communicating in Russian. By the end of the academic year, students will have learned all singular and plural case forms, basic verb conjugation patterns, basic usage of imperfective and perfective aspect. They will be able to have conversations and write short dialogues or compositions about a wide variety of topics related to home, school, family, leisure activities, etc. In addition, students will will be exposed to a wide variety of cultural/Cultural aspects of Russian society. Both audio and video materials are an integral part of the course. Students will have access to a computer-based vocabulary tutor and will meet periodically in the Foreign Language Computing Center to complete assignments using the Internet. The textbook is published in two volumes; in the middle of the academic year we complete Volume 1 and move into Volume 2.

Texts: Lubensky, Ervin, McLellan, Jarvis. Nachalo (McGraw-Hill, 2001); Warner et al. Nachalo Workbook/Lab Manual (McGraw-Hill, 2001); Jarvis, et al. Nachalo Video Guide (McGraw-Hill, 1997); Eyewitness Travel Guide to Moscow (DK Publishing, 2000)

SLAVIC 4-5-6: Intermediate Russian
Intermediate Russian focuses on developing fluency, expanding vocabulary, and acquiring basic reading and writing skills. In addition to conversational materials, the textbook includes a variety of short cultural, literary and journalistic texts that serve as the basis for class discussion and written assignments. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with basic grammar and vocabulary at home so that class time can be spent using the language and communicating in Russian. The first half of the academic year includes a comprehensive review of case forms and usage, verb conjugation and the role of verbal aspect; the second half of the year introduces the use of participles and verbal adverbs in written Russian and offers a comprehensive review of unprefixed and prefixed verbs of motion, imperatives, conditional, etc. Students should be able to carry on conversations and write dialogues and compositions based on a wide variety of topics including their studies, families, homes, character traits, traveling, urban life, nature, food, personal interests. In terms of culture, students will have read excerpts from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, from well-known children's literature (Marshak, Chukovsky), historical texts, and so on. Audio and web-based materials are an integral part of the course. Each lesson has a wide variety of listening exercises (phonetics, intonation, listening comprehension, dictations, etc.). Students will meet periodically in the Foreign Language Computing Center to complete assignments using the Internet. Class will meet occasionally in the UCSB Library to work on activities using Russian-language newspapers and periodicals.

Texts: Kagan and Miller. V puti; Kagan and Miller. V puti Lab Manual/Workbook; (recommended) Katzner. English-Russian Russian-English Dictionary (Wiley, 1994);

SLAVIC 101 A-B-C-D-E-F: Third-Year Russian
The focus of Slavic 101 is continued development of oral and written fluency. Special attention is given to development of reading skills through a variety of fictional and non-fictional texts related to Russian culture and society. The course includes review of problematic grammar points such as verbal aspect, time expressions, participles, verbal adverbs, motion verbs. Compositions, translations and oral presentations are required. Students are also expected to keep a journal for weekly writing assignments. The class meets regularly three hours per week and the fourth hour is devoted to periodic screenings of Russian films related to topics in the textbook.

Texts: Dabars, Morris, Stramnova. Mir russkikh (Kendall-Hunt, 1997); Dabars, Lutskaya, Morris. Mir russkikh Exercise Book (Kendall-Hunt, 1997); Katzner. English-Russian Russian-English Dictionary (Wiley, 1994)

SLAVIC 121: The Russian Short Story
Prerequisite: Slavic 6. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
Analysis and discussion of various forms of the short story by Russian writers. Readings in Russian.

SLAVIC 122: The Russian Novella
Prerequisite: Slavic 6. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 units.
In Russian literature the novella is a genre quite distinct from the short story and the novel. All major writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries created important works in this form, so that a vast field for exploration and examination exists for such a genre course.

SLAVIC 124: Twentieth-Century Poetry
Prerequisite: Slavic 6. Not open for credit to students who have completed Russian 124.
Introduction to twentieth-century Russian poetry. The "Silver Age" and Russian Modernism. Avantegarde poetry. Post-war trends in Russian poetry. Readings by Briusov, Blok, Akhmatova, Mandelshtam, Esenin, Mayakovsky, Pasternak, Brodsky, and others. Readings in Russian.