No homework. Come to class to talk about everything and nothing.

Лев Толстой «После бала»

Web sites: Investing in a Russian newspaper. You are an investor who wants to buy a Russian newspaper or a major Russian news/current events Web site. Visit several such ".ru" sites and find one that you would like to buy. Prepare a short presentation about it for your classmates (four to five minutes) describing the site or periodical and explaining why you chose it and what you would do with it when it becomes yours. If you like, take notes for your presentation and use them as you speak. This is optional, but if you do take notes, you may turn them in to Slava for corrections, if any.

Документальный фильм «Интервью из Швеции» transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Часть 1: Причины эмиграции

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Часть 1: Причины эмиграции
Students #1 & 5
В. Г. Эфрон
Students #2 & 6
Н. М. Саровайская
Students #3 & 7
Т. Г. Эльберг
Students #4 & 8
И. В. Басман Документальный фильм «Интервью из Швеции».
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Часть 2: Изучение шведского языка.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Часть 2: Изучение шведского языка.
Students #1 & 5
В. Г. Эфрон
Students #2 & 6
Н. М. Саровайская
Students #3 & 7
Т. Г. Эльберг
Students #4 & 8
И. В. Басман

Александр Куприн "Куст сирени"

Web sites: Your hobby. You have a hobby (any hobby) and want to find people on the Russian Internet (в Рунете или в Сети, как говорят в России) with the same hobby, and also collect information about it--perhaps some catalogs, or tips and advice, or an online store that caters to people with the same interests as yours. Prepare a presentation (five to ten minutes) on the site(s) of your choice and tell us what you would do if you were to start a similar Web site. Like in the Week 1 assignment, you may--optionally--take notes for your presentation and hand them in for correction. (This note applies to all such classes this semester and will not be repeated.)

Документальный фильм «Интервью из Швеции» transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Часть 3: Работа

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Часть 3: Работа
Students #1 & 5
В. Г. Эфрон
Students #2 & 6
Н. М. Саровайская
Students #3 & 7
Т. Г. Эльберг
Students#4 & 8
И. В. Басман

Антон Чехов «Анна на шее» Part I
Some of you expressed an interest in the 1954 film based on this story.

Web sites: an item to sell. You, a Web site owner and designer, have an item to sell. Start at the "Yandex" link at our home page, click Market, and visit several Russian Web sites that sell cars, real estate, stamp collections, furniture, pets--anything for the consumer--and study the language and the approach. Once you've seen how other Web sites advertise their goods, plan how you would design a Web page that sells something. In class, tell the group about it. Provide as many enticing details as you can.

You do not have to actually design a nice-looking Web page. Just decide what you want to show, and perhaps draw a very rough diagram on a piece of paper.

Документальный фильм «Интервью из Швеции» transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Часть 4: Общение

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Часть 4: Общение
Students #1 & 5
В. Г. Эфрон
Students #2 & 6
Н. М. Саровайская
Students #3 & 7
Т. Г. Эльберг
Students #4 & 8
И. В. Басман

Антон Чехов «Анна на шее» Part II
Some of you expressed an interest in the 1954 film based on this story.

Web sites: a business to sell. You, a Web site owner and designer, want to sell a business (a store, a private school, a factory, a bank, an airline, etc.). Study Russian Web sites that advertise businesses. Collect the expressions and promotional devices they use and draft your own Web page. Your page may include side bars, contact information, ads for related businesses, etc. Use your write-up as you speak in class.

You do not have to actually design a nice-looking Web page. Just decide what you want to show, and perhaps draw a very rough diagram on a piece of paper.

Документальный фильм «Интервью из Швеции» transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Часть 5: Праздники, и как остаться русским в эмиграции
Часть 6: Маленькие истории

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Часть 6: Маленькие истории
Students #1 & 5
В. Г. Эфрон
Students #2 & 6
Н. М. Саровайская
Students #3 & 7
Т. Г. Эльберг
Students #4 & 8
И. В. Басман

Иван Бунин «Темные аллеи»

Web sites: an item to buy. You, a Web site owner and designer, want to buy some consumer product. Write a detailed "wanted" ad for a car, a house, a piece of furniture, or whatever you want to buy, based on the language and style of similar ads on the Russian Internet. Present it in class and be prepared to deal with "offers" from your classmates: they may ask pertinent questions!

февральские каникулы

Максим Горький «В сочельник»

Web sites: Reactions on the street to the Ukraine War. You, a Web site owner and designer, decided to create a webpage that shows the reaction of ordinary, randomly selected Russians to their country's aggression against Ukraine. Search YouTube, Facebook, or any other sources for short street interviews that can serve as a slice of public opinion on your page. Tell the class about these interviews, explain why you chose them and how you would present them on your website.

Дискуссия на тему: Америка — страна эмигрантов. Используя материалы фильма «Интервью из Швеции», известные вам публикации в прессе или семейные истории, подготовьте доклад на 7-8 минут. Будьте готовы отстаивать свою точку зрения.

Андрей Платонов «Песчаная учительница» Parts 1-3

Web sites: a Help Wanted ad. You, a Web site owner and designer, want to place a Vacancy announcement for an organization that needs to hire a new an employee. Advertise a position in a school, business, community, etc., in the style of similar ads on Russian Web sites.

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:

Here and below, the breakdown into Parts and Scenes may not be obvious when you watch the movie unless you also use the online transcript, where time is indicated for each Scene as it is shown on the video screeen.

Part 1.
Part 2.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:

Student #1
Part 1. Scene 1.
Part 1. Scene 2.
Students #2&5
Part 1. Scene 3.
Part 1. Scene 4.
Part 2. Scene 1.
Student #3, 4
Part 2. Scene 2.
Part 2. Scene 3.
Student #1,2&3
Part 2. Scene 4.
Part 2. Scene 5.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1 & 2
Part 1. Scene 4.
Students #3& 4
Part 2. Scene 4.
Students #1 & 5
Part 2. Scene 5.

Андрей Платонов «Песчаная учительница» Parts 4-5

Web sites: looking for employment. You are looking for a job. Write a resume in the style (and content) similar to those posted on Russian Web sites by people who look for work. Present your resume/qualifications on class. A classmate may want to hire you, so try to make a good impression!

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online 1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Part 3.
Part 4.
Part 5.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Student #1
Part 3. Scene 1.
Part 3. Scene 2.
Student #2
Part 3. Scene 3.
Part 4. Scene 1.
Student #3
Part 4. Scene 2.
Part 4. Scene 3.
Student #4
Part 4. Scene 4.
Part 5. Scene 1.
Student #5
Part 5. Scene 2.
Part 5. Scene 3.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1 & 2
Part 3. Scene 2.
Students #3 & 4
Part 4. Scene 3.
Students #1, # 2 & 5
Part 4. Scene 4.

Александр Солженицын: Двучастные рассказы. Молодняк 1

Web sites: running a school. You, a Web site owner and designer, own and operate a school in Russia (at any level), or perhaps want to start one. Plan a Web page with a mission statement and a policy paper for your school: how will it be different from existing schools? what curriculum will you offer? what fees will you charge? how will you review the applicants? Base your presentation on existing Russian sites.

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Part 6.
Part 7.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Student #1
Part 6. Scene 1.
Part 6. Scene 2.
Student #2
Part 6. Scene 3.
Part 6. Scene 4.
Student #3
Part 6. Scene 5.
Students #4
Part 7. Scene 1.
Students #5
Part 7. Scene 2.
Part 7. Scene 3.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1 & 2
Part 6. Scene 1.
Students #3 & 4
Part 7. Scene 1.
Students #1 & 5
Part 6. Scene 5.

Александр Солженицын: Двучастные рассказы. Молодняк 2.

Web sites: choosing a tour. You want to travel somewhere in Russia. Find a few Russian Web sites that advertise tours, select the one you want to take and present it in class. Explain where you'll go, describe the costs and terms, talk about the local attractions, and what you'll be doing there.

весенние каникулы

весенние каникулы

весенние каникулы

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Part 8.
Part 9.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Student #1
Part 8. Scene 1.
Student #2
Part 8. Scene 2.
Student #3
Part 8. Scene 3.
Student #4
Part 9. Scene 1.
Student #5
Part 9. Scene 2.
Part 9. Scene 3.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1, 2 & 5
Part 8. Scene 2.
Students #3, 4 & 5
Part 9. Scene 1.

Web sites: attract tourists to your travel agency. You, a travel agent, organize tours around Russia. Plan a promotional Web page for several tours offered by your company.

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Part 10.
Part 11.
Part 12.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Student #1
Part 10. Scene 1.
Student #2
Part 10. Scene 2.
Part 10. Scene 3.
Student #5
Part 11. Scene 1.
Student #3
Part 11. Scene 3.
Part 11. Scene 4.
Student #4
Part 12. Scene 1.
Part 12. Scene 2.
Part 12. Scene 3.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1 & 2
Part 10. Scene 2.
Students #3 & 4
Part 11. Scene 4.
Students #1 & 5
Part 12. Scene 2.

Владимир Войнович «Ёлочка»

Web sites: a web site for a movie theater. You own and operate a movie theater in Russia. Look for American movies that are shown in the U.S. these days and plan a Web page for the Russian public to advertise some of these movies. Create a schedule of show times, brief descriptions of the movies you are showing, names of the stars. Base the style of your Web site on Russian sites of this kind.

Фильм «Благословите женщину»: transcript; watch online.
1) Assignment for everyone:
Watch and understand, prepare questions:
Part 13.
Part 14.
Part 15.
Part 16.

2) Individual assignments:
Watch more carefully:
Student #1
Part 13. Scene 1.
Part 13. Scene 2.
Student #2
Part 14. Scene 1.
Part 14. Scene 2.
Student #3
Part 15. Scene 1.
Student #5
Part 15. Scene 2.
Student #4
Part 15. Scene 3.
Part 16. Scene 1.

3) Prepare to act out the following scenes:
Students #1 & 2
Part 14. Scene 2.
Students #2 & 5
Part 15. Scene 2.
Students #3 & 4
Part 15. Scene 3.

Сергей Довлатов «Приличный двубортный костюм», прочитайте стр. 8-9, до слов: “Ответственный секретарь говорит: — Напиши про мать-героиню.”

Web sites: looking for a good school to enroll in. You want to study some subject in a Russian college, institute, or university. Find a school in Russia that you would like to enroll in and prepare a presentation about it; why do you want to study there? what courses would you take? what would you expect of your education?

For this class prepare 5-8 min critical review on either of the films you have been watching this spring semester. Make presentation in class.

Сергей Довлатов «Приличный двубортный костюм», прочитайте до конца.

Presentation about any website you want to invent or describe, similar to the presentations you made all semester.

This semester you were introduced to several Russian women: first, the four women in the documentary “Interviews from Sweden”, and then the three main female characters in the fiction film “Bless the Woman.” For this class, prepare a 5-8 min. presentation about an American female character based on literature, films or real life (a member of your family, or any other woman who has influenced you). Draw a comparison to the Russian women you met in this course.