Russian 1121: Syllabus
Week 1: [show/hide]
Thursday

The cells in each row show the homework that has to be done before the class.

The first two weeks of classes are different from the later routine, because it is difficult to separate reading, grammar, and conversation while you are still learning the alphabet and the sound system. There are additional notes in the syllabus after the second week.

No homework to prepare for today (Thursday).

Friday
This is the homework that must be done before coming to class on Friday. Read Course Description (link at the top of this syllabus) about each type of homework.
  1. Read & analyze: Les.1; Les.2:2 (English only). (Here are the first 8 Lessons in PDF format that you may use if your copy of the book hasn't arrived yet.)
  2. Listen, record, and submit: Lesson 1 in Web Audio Lab.
Week 2: [show/hide]
Monday
Labor Day, no class
Tuesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.2 (English; Russian alphabet)
  2. Write: Les. 2 pp.5-9. This video is a good way to learn how to connect the letters.
  3. Listen, record, and submit: Les.2 in Web Audio Lab.
  4. Memorize: names of letters (but not the order of the alphabet)
Wednesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.3; Les.4
  2. Write: Les.3 pp.12-14
  3. Watch this 15-minute video by the voice teacher Carl Ratner on the palatalization of Russian consonants. (The video may be followed by another one on Russian vowels, but you do not have to watch that.)
  4. Listen, record, and submit: Les.3 in Web Audio Lab.
Thursday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.5
  2. Write: Les.4 pp.17-18
  3. Listen, record, and submit: Les. 4 in Web Audio Lab
Friday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.6
  2. Write: Les.5 p.21
  3. Practice reading aloud: Les.6:1
  4. Listen, record, and submit: Les.5 in Web Audio Lab.
  5. Memorize: Les.5:5
Week 3: [show/hide]
Monday
  1. Read & analyze: pp.24,25,26
  2. Practice reading aloud: Les.6:3
  3. Listen, record, and submit: Les. 6 in Web Audio Lab.
Tuesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.7
  2. Write: Les.7:6
  3. Practice reading aloud: Les.7:1,2,3
  4. Listen, record, and submit: Les.7 in Web Audio Lab.
Wednesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les.8
  2. Write: Les.8:6
  3. Practice reading aloud: Les.8:1,2
  4. Listen, record, and submit: Les. 8 in Web Audio Lab.
  5. Memorize: numbers 1-10
Thursday
Things are changing! During the first two weeks of classes, it was difficult to separate reading, grammar, and conversation, because you were still learning the alphabet and the sound system. Now these components of the course will be more or less separate, and you'll have a different teacher for each kind of work:
  • Tuesday & Thursday (Slava): grammar, writing, self-test quizzes
  • Monday & Wednesday (Viktoria): video
  • Friday (Raissa): exercises, sound recordings, memorization
All homework is explained in the Course Description (see link at the top of this syllabus).
  1. Read & analyze: Les. 9. In case you are still waiting for your copy of the book, here are Lessons 9-12 in PDF format.
  2. Write: Les 9:8
  3. Practice reading aloud: Les 9:1,6
Friday
Review of Lessons 1-9 in the book
  1. Practice reading aloud: Les.7:1; 8:1,2; 9:6;
  2. Listen, record, and submit: Les.9 in Web Audio Lab.
  3. Memorize: Les.9:4
Week 4: [show/hide]
Monday
  1. Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Intermission.
    1. select Eralash in your WAL menu after the log-in
    2. select Intermission in the top menu and Entire Episode in the bottom menu
    3. click Go
    4. play the video, read the transcript, click unfamiliar words for dictionary entries (displayed in the References panel)
    5. write an English translation of the transcript
  2. read & practice the assignments in the other sections by selecting them from the bottom menu:
    1. Role Playing
    2. Exercise 1.1
    3. Discussion 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4.
Tuesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les. 10
  2. Self-test Quiz to Lesson 10 in COLLT. When you complete this quiz and click Finish, your displayed score should be 12 points (1 point per blank).
    COLLT work is assigned for every Tuesday and Thursday: log in to COLLT and practice grammatical endings by doing the fill-in-the-blanks Beginning Russian Quizzes exercises. This will let you test your understanding of many grammar and spelling principles. Click Finish when done: this will record and date your work and display your score. See also the COLLT FAQ.
  3. Write: Les 10:5
  4. Practice reading aloud: Les. 10:3,4
Wednesday
  1. Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Stray Dog
    If you missed the directions for doing this work, read Course Description or consult the similar assignment in Week 3, above.
  2. Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1,2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
v
Thursday
  1. Read & analyze: Les. 11.
  2. Self-Test Quiz to Lesson 11 in COLLT. After this quiz your score should be 24 (12 points for Quiz to Lesson 10 plus 12 points for this one).
    If you missed the directions for doing this work, read Course Description or consult the similar assignment in Week 3, above.
  3. Write: Les. 11:6
  4. Practice reading aloud: Les.11:1,3
Friday
Review of Lessons 10-11 in the book
  1. Practice reading aloud: Les.10:1,2,3; Les. 11:1
  2. Listen, record, and submit: Les. 10, Les. 11 in Web Audio Lab.
  3. Memorize: Les.10:3
Week 5: [show/hide]
Monday
  1. Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Crazy Day
  2. Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
  1. Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Crazy Day
  2. Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Tuesday
  1. Read & analyze: Les. 12, pp. 37-38. In case you are still waiting for your copy of the book, here are Lessons 1-21 in PDF format.
  2. Self-Test Quiz to Lesson 12 in COLLT. After this quiz your score should be 60.
  3. Write: Les. 12:4
  4. Practice reading aloud: Les.12:1
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: My summer Vacation
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Thursday
Read & analyze: Les.13, 14
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 13 & 14 in COLLT. After these quizzes your score should be 109.
Write: Les.13:6
Practice reading aloud: Les. 13:4,5; 14:3,5
Friday
Review of Lessons 12-14 in the book
  1. Practice reading aloud: Les. 12:2,3; 13.2;
  2. Listen, record, and submit: 12.1; 13.2,4; 14.4; in Web Audio Lab. Note that for the rest of the semester, selected exercises from each Lesson--not entire Lessons--are assigned for recording. The link will take you to the first of the assigned exercises.
  3. Memorize: Les. 12:1
Week 6: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Brothers
Read & practice: Role Playing 2, 3, 5, 7, 8; Exercises 2.1, 2.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Tuesday
Read & analyze: Les. 15, 16
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 15 & 16 in COLLT. After these quizzes, your score should be 146.
Write: Start working on Review Paper 1 (print it from the link in the Course Description).
Practice reading aloud: Les.15:1,2; Les.16:1,2,4
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Intersection
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Thursday
Read & analyze: Les. 17; Les. 18
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 17 & 18 in COLLT. After these quizzes, your score should be 170.
Write: Finish and submit Review Paper #1.
Practice reading aloud: Les. 17:3,4; Les. 18:4
Friday
Review of Lessons 15-18 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 15:1; 16:2; 17.4; 18.1
Listen, record, and submit: (Note that for the rest of the semester, only selected exercises in each Lesson are assigned for recording.) 15.1, 16.2, 18.1 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: Les.16:1
Week 7: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Freedom
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercise 1.1; Discussion 1.1.
Tuesday
Read & analyze: Les. 19; Les. 20
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 19 & 20 in COLLT. Target score: 209.
Write: Les. 20:4
Practice reading aloud: Les. 19:2,6 (don't write!); Les. 20:2,5
Wednesday
Watch and review: Any film that was covered over the previous four weeks (weeks# 3,4,5 & 6)
Prepare a skit: Working with another student from your 1121 section, select any scene(s) from the film that you chose to review (above), memorize the dialog, and be prepared to perform it in class. You may make changes in the dialog and the story, if you like, but keep the vocabulary close to the original.
Thursday
Read & analyze: Les. 21; pp.60,62; Les. 22
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 21 & 22 in COLLT. Target score: 239.
Write: Les. 22:6
Practice reading aloud: Les.21:2; Les.22:2
Friday
Review of Lessons 19-22 in the book
Practice reading aloud: Les. 19:3,4; Les. 20:2,3,6; Les. 21: 1; Les. 22: 1, 2, 3;
Listen, record, and submit: 19.3; 20.2; 21.1; 22.1, 2, 3 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: Les. 19:1
Week 8: [show/hide]
Monday
Fall break
Tuesday
Fall break
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Lovers
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.3; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Thursday
Read & analyze: Les. 23; Les. 24
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 23 & 24 in COLLT. Target score: 289.
Write: Les. 23:6; Les. 24:5
Practice reading aloud: Review on p.61
Friday
Review of Lessons 23-24 in the book
Practice reading aloud: Les. 23.1; Les. 24.3
Listen, record, and submit: 23.3; 24.3 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: Les. 24:2
Week 9: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Train Beggar
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Tuesday
Read & analyze: Les. 25; Les. 26
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 25 & 26 in COLLT. Target score: 330.
Write: Les. 26:5
Practice reading aloud: 25:6 (don't write!) 26:4
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Big Bad Wolf
Read & practice: Role Playing in all scenes; Exercise 1.1; Discussion 1.1, 1.3.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 27; 28; page 79 (Nom. Plural.)
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 27 & 28 in COLLT. Target score: 358.
Write: 28:6
Practice reading aloud: 27:2,3,5 (don't write!)
Friday
Review of Lessons 25-28 in the book
Practice reading aloud: Les. 25:2,4,7; Les. 26:3; 27.1; 28.1,3
Listen, record, and submit: 25.2; 25.4; 26.1; 26.3; 27.2; 28.3; 28.5 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: Les. 25:1
Week 10: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Gogol
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Tuesday
Read & analyze: 29; 30; pp.79,80
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 29 & 30 in COLLT. These review quizzes will require more time than usual. Target score: 465.
Write: 29:6; 30:7
Practice reading aloud: 30:5
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Cinderella
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.3; Discussion 1.2, 1.3.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 31; 32
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 31 & 32 in COLLT. Target score: 500.
Write: 31:3; start working on Review Paper #2 (print it from a link in Course Description)
Practice reading aloud: 31:2, 32:4 (don't write!)
Friday
Review of Lessons 29-32 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 29:2,3; 30:1,4,6; 31.2; 32.2
Listen, record, and submit: 29.1; 30.3; 30.5; 31.1; 32.1 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: 29:1
Week 11: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Curious George
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Tuesday
Read & analyze: 33; 34
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 33 & 34 in COLLT. Target score:534.
Write: finish and submit Review Paper 2.
Practice reading aloud: 34:4,5 (don't write!)
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Kefir
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.2, 1.4; Discussion 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 35; 36
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 35 & 36 in COLLT. Target score:567.
Write: 35:3,4 (write complete sentences). Note: You can use a format that allows you to avoid copying the same text, e.g. Вы едите икру/пьёте молоко/вернёте книги/вернётесь?
Practice reading aloud: 36:4 (don't write!)
Friday
Review of Lessons 33-36 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 33:2,4; 34:1; 35.3; 36.1
Listen, record, and submit: 33.3; 34.1; 35.1; 36.1 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: 33:1
Week 12: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: An Apple
Read & practice: Role Playing in all scenes; Exercises 1.1., 2.1 (the number before the period indicates the scene in a multi-scene episode); Discussion 1.2, 1.3 (in a multi-scene episode, the Discussion tab appears when you select "Entire episode").
Tuesday
Read & analyze: 37; 38; p.103,106
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 37 & 38 in COLLT. Target score: 595.
Write: 37:5 (1st part only); 38:3 (write complete sentences). Note: In 38:3, you can use a format that allows you to avoid copying the same text, e.g. О нём/ней/них.
Practice reading aloud: 38:4 (don't write!)
Wednesday
Watch and review: Any film that was covered over the weeks # 8, 9, 10 & 11
Prepare a skit: Working with another student from your 1121 section, select any scene(s) from the film that you chose to review (above), memorize the dialog, and be prepared to perform it in class. You may make changes in the dialog and the story, if you like, but keep the vocabulary close to the original.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 39; 40; p.104
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 39 & 40 in COLLT. Target score: 619.
Write: 39:5 (first part only: write 30 verb forms)
Practice reading aloud: 39:4, 40:4 (don't write!)
Start bringing «Что я видел» to all Slava's classes.
Friday
Review of Lessons 37-40 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 37:2,4; 38:1; 39.1; 40.1,2
Listen, record, and submit: 37.2,4; 38.1; 39.1; 39.2; 40.2 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: 37:1
Week 13: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Piggy Bank
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.1, 1.2.
Tuesday
Read & analyze: p.105; p. 121 (Inst. case); 41; 42
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 41 & 42 in COLLT. Target score: 666.
Write: 41:5; 42:7
Practice reading aloud: 42:2
Bring «Что я видел» to all Slava's classes.
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Present
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.1, 1.2; Discussion 1.2, 1.3.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 43; 44
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 43 & 44 in COLLT. Target score: 714.
Write: 43:5; 44:5 (1st part only)
Practice reading aloud: 43:2
Bring «Что я видел» to all Slava's classes.
Friday
Review of Lessons 41-44 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 41:1,4; 42:1; 43.1; 44.3,4
Listen, record, and submit: 41.1; 42.1; 43.1; 44.3,4 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: 41:1
Week 14: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: A Phone Call
Read & practice: Role Playing in all scenes; Exercises 3.1., 4.1 (the number before the period indicates the scene in a multi-scene episode); Discussion 1.1, 1.2 (in a multi-scene episode, the Discussion tab appears when you select "Entire episode"). Watch & write an English translation:
Tuesday
Read & analyze: 45; 46
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 45 & 46 in COLLT. Target score: 746.
Write: 45:4; 46:5 (1st part only). Note that Review Paper 3 is due next week.
Practice reading aloud: 46:5, 2nd part (don't write)
Wednesday
Thanksgiving break
Thursday
Thanksgiving break
Friday
Thanksgiving break
Week 15: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Committee
Read & practice: Role Playing in all scenes; Exercises 1.1., 2.1 (the number before the period indicates the scene in a multi-scene episode); Discussion 1.1, 1.2 (in a multi-scene episode, the Discussion tab appears when you select "Entire episode").
Tuesday
Read & analyze: 47; 48; p.121
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 47 & 48 in COLLT. Target score: 809.
Write: Submit Review Paper 3.
Practice reading aloud: 48:3,4
Wednesday
Watch & write an English translation: Eralash: Encounter
Read & practice: Role Playing; Exercises 1.2, 1.3; Discussion 1.2, 1.3.
Thursday
Read & analyze: 49; 50; p.122
Self-Test Quizzes to Lessons 49 & 50 in COLLT. Target score: 835.
Write: 49:5 (write complete sentences)
Friday
Review of Lessons 47-50 in the book
Practice reading aloud: 47:3,4 (don't write); 48:1,2,5; 49:2; 50:1
Listen, record, and submit: 47.3; 48.2; 49.1,3, 50.2 in Web Audio Lab.
Memorize: 47:1
Week 16: [show/hide]
Monday
Watch and review: Any film that was covered this semester
Prepare a skit: Working with another student from your 1121 section, select any scene(s) from the film that you chose to review (above), memorize the dialog, and be prepared to perform it in class. You may make changes in the dialog and the story, if you like, but keep the vocabulary close to the original.
Tuesday
Grammar review class: go over all your written homework and review papers, note any issues that you do not fully understand or remember, or are likely to have trouble with at the final exam. Bring these notes and any questions to class. As you review for the exam, you may find these links useful: COLLT Review Lessons 10-50; Written Homework Review Lessons 10-50; Eralash Review; Review & Research Papers; note this description of the final exam.