• Russian Internet
  
• Reading and discussion
  
• Film and discussion
  

Like Russian 3303 in the fall, this is a variable-credit course: you select the number of credits when you enroll. Sign up for 3 credits to attend all three classes. Sign up for 2 credits and attend two classes each week. If you cannot attend more than one weekly class, sign up for 1 credit.

The materials and the nature of all assignments for each class are described below. See Syllabus for dates and details. See Rooms and times for meeting times and places.

Materials

• Stories for the reading class are online, each linked to the syllabus.
• Documentary «Интервью из Швеции» (transcript is available here; watch the film online)
• Feature film «Благословите женщину» (transcript is available online)
• Russian-language Web sites of your own choosing for Slava's class, on a different theme each week.
• AI bot of your own choice (explained below) for Slava's class. Recommended: https://chat.openai.com/auth/login?next=/g/g-SrsGydMuG-language-learner (free but requires registration).
• Any good Russian-English and English-Russian dictionary (e.g. the one by Kenneth Katzner, published by John Wiley and Sons, paperback edition available)
  

Watching the films:
At the moment, film Благословите женщину (Blesss the Woman) can be watched on YouTube. If you cannot access it at the above link, or simply want better video quality, go to the language lab at the Language Resource Center in Stimson Hall and ask for DVD RV91. Interviews from Sweden may be watched online here.

Assignments for the Russian Internet classes
The purpose of this class is to explore the language and culture of today's Russian websites and to practice writing and speaking in the same language, with the assistance from AI language bots. Find a few Russian websites that treat the assigned subject (see Syllabus) and write a description of your own website using the language of the existing Russian web pages--just language, no diagrams, charts, or images. Then log in to an AI bot (like the one suggested above, a page in ChatGPT / OpenAI) and do the rest of this writing assignment in stages: ask the bot to correct your grammar; then ask it to suggest a couple of variations of your story: one that is longer or shorter, more formal or more friendly, etc.; then analyze these suggestions and compile your final aggregate version.
Present your web site project in class.

Assignment for the reading/discussion class
Read the assigned story carefully using a dictionary when necessary and prepare to discuss its narrative and main characters.
Prepare two types of questions:
1) any question(s) that you want to ask in class to clarify the parts of the story that you find difficult to understand 2. four questions based on the story to which your classmates should either find the answers in the story, or offer their opinions/explanations as a response

Assignment for the film/discussion class

When working with «Интервью из Швеции»:
1) Consult the Syllabus and watch the assigned interviews. Make sure you understand at least 80% of the dialog. If some of the passages are difficult to understand, consult the transcripts and your dictionary. Prepare four questions on these episodes that you will ask in class.

2) Each student will also be assigned a few interviews for more careful study. Prepare a brief report (2 to 4 minutes). In class, you will be asked to present your report on your own, without any prompting. Try to use as many actual expressions from the interviews as you can.

When working with «Благословите женщину»:
1) Consult the Syllabus and watch the assigned film episodes. Make sure you understand at least 80% of the dialog. If some of the passages are difficult to understand, consult the transcripts and your dictionary. Prepare four questions on these episodes that you will ask in class.

2) Each student will also be assigned a few scenes for more careful study. In the film transcript online, read the scene description and summary and prepare a brief report (3 to 5 minutes). In class, you will be asked to present your report on your own, without any prompting. Try to use as many actual expressions from the film as you can.

3) Prepare to act out in class the scenes that are assigned for you individually in the Syllabus. Try to use as much of the actual language from the film as you can.

You will have two general discussion classes based on the two films, shown in the Syllabus.

At the end of the semester, you may be asked to write one essay for the film class and one for the reading class, in Russian. These are indicated in the syllabus. The essays should be typed double-spaced, 1.5 to 2 pages.

Tests
The course concludes with a take-home (online) final exam.

Grading and attendance
Performance in all three classes, 50 percent; written homework for the Web class, 25 percent; final examination, 25 percent. Attendance is very important. Missing more than three classes without a good reason may affect your grade.