Kristine Shmakov
Office: CT 219 #8
Phone/Voice mail:  977-4841;   (244-6111 for snow closure info.)
Email: kshmakov@pcc.edu
Office hours: 2:50-3:20pm M/W; 1-2pm T/Th; 12-1pm F
Course web page: http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov

RUS 201 is offered for five credit hours fall term. This course is for students who have completed one year of college level Russian. Students with skills in Russian that do not meet or exceed the required level must register for another class. The prerequisite for this class is RUS 103 or RUS 151 or the equivalent of one year of college level Russian.

I. CLASS STRUCTURE:
    All Russian courses at PCC are conducted in Russian. Oral communication is the main goal, but writing, reading, listening, and cultural skills are also all fully integrated. Oral and written activities, games, videos, Internet exercises, and songs will be used regularly to help you learn the language. You will work with a partner or in a small group to complete all class activities. You should participate actively, use only Russian, and try your best not to speak any English. If you make a commitment to use only Russian, you will be amazed at how quickly you will progress.
    Learning a new language requires making many mistakes. Our classroom is a safe, non-threatening place where you can do this. I do not like to call on students and prefer to let people volunteer when they feel comfortable. Make sure to volunteer at least once or twice each day in order to earn participation points. If you like to volunteer often, please make sure everyone else gets a chance before you volunteer again. When I introduce new material, please make guesses and try things out. This is how you will learn.
    Sometimes you might feel completely lost, since I will be speaking only Russian in class. This is normal, so try not to panic! Sometimes you just need to practice the material with a partner for things to start making sense. Have your partner help you during pair work or call me over for help. If you still feel confused, please see me after class for extra help. I am always happy to help in any way outside of class.

II. GRADING: 
    Your grade for this class is made up of two components: daily class grades and homework.

    DAILY GRADES: Each day you will earn a daily class grade (A to F) for class participation and performance. Daily grades will be worth 60% of your final grade. I will be evaluating these aspects of your classroom work:

-Preparation for class, including demonstrating knowledge of new vocabulary and structures covered the class before.
-Active participation with partners and in small groups.
-Volunteering during class.
-Willingness to take risks and experiment with new material.
-Trying your best to speak Russian and not use English.

When assigning daily grades, I will not compare you to or grade you against any other student. Your own effort and performance will determine your grade and will never affect anyone else’s. If everyone does well with the material, everyone gets an A for the day.
    Good attendance is essential for learning Russian. Because we cover so much each day, you should avoid missing class. Absences will lower your daily grade average in the following ways:

1 absence:          No effect on daily grade average.
2 or 3 absences:      Daily grade average drops by one-half letter grade. (A to A-)
4 absences:         Daily grade average drops by one letter grade. (A to B; B to C)
5 absences:         Daily grade average drops two letter grades. (A to C; B to D)
6 absences:         Daily grade average drops by three letter grades. (A to D; B to F)
7 absences:         Automatic F or NP

    Each class lasts 135 minutes. If you are late or leave early, I will record the     amount of time missed. When it adds up to 135 minutes, it will count as an     absence. 

Because there is only one section of second year Russian, you may make up two absences during the quarter by going to the tutor for 2 hours and doing the material missed from class. See me before doing this to find out what you should cover. An absence must be made up within a week. Turn in a note from the tutor stating you have done this to get credit for your absence.

WRITTEN WORK: Homework and in-class assignments will be worth the other 40% of your grade.
    WRITTEN WORK: Homework and in-class assignments will be worth the other 40% of your grade.
    Homework assignments will be due at the beginning of every class and should be turned into your homework folder. Please make sure to take your graded homework out of your homework folder each day, even if you do not turn in homework. Assignments will be posted daily on the class web page (see top of syllabus for address) and will come from the homework book. Homework turned in after class will be counted as late. You may turn in TWO late homework assignments for full credit during the quarter. (These assignments may be turned in anytime before the last day of class. No late homework will be accepted during finals week.) Any further late assignments will receive a 0. At the end of the quarter, I will drop your lowest homework grade. If you do not use your late homework assignments, I will convert each to 2 points extra credit.
    When you return from an absence, you only need to turn in the assignment that was due the day you missed class. Homework assigned the day you were absent will be due the following class session after you return along with the new homework. Please check the webpage to find out what homework I assigned during your absence.

    In-class writing assignments are worth 10 homework points and will serve as quizzes for this class. There are no make-ups for in-class assignments, although, if you come to class late, and we have already done the assignment, you will be allowed to complete it after class. At the end of the quarter I will drop your lowest score. If you are absent, make sure to check the course web page to see if we will be having an in-class assignment the next day, so that you can prepare for it.

    Homework/in-class writing corrections: Every graded assignment (both homework and in-class writings) that you receive back, must be corrected and resubmitted the following class for a corrections grade. You will receive an additional 3 points for each assignment. If your paper is perfect, it will be returned to you with the 3 point corrections score already marked. This is the only time you do not need to do corrections. When making corrections, please correct the mistakes in a different color pen above the original mistake. Do not erase your mistake and write over it, rewrite the assignment or put corrections on a separate page. Late homework corrections will receive an automatic 0.
    A word of warning: Not completing homework corrections can potentially lower your class grade by a full letter, since ultimately we will have about 60 points in corrections. Also students who do not regularly do their corrections tend to get lower grades on their homework, because they are not learning from their mistakes. Corrections are an integral part of this class and an easy, automatic three points. Make sure to do them each day as part of your homework.

    Redo policy:  If you receive a grade lower than a 7 (a C) on a homework assignment, you must redo the assignment and turn it in the next class. You will get 7 points for redoing the assignment. This is a safety net that keeps you from ever getting a non-passing grade on homework. You should see me or the tutor for help before redoing an assignment. Late redos are worth only 5 points. Redos are not allowed on quizzes.

    Extra credit: There will be opportunities for extra credit throughout the quarter. All extra credit must be turned in by the last day of class. The extra points will be added to your homework total. Also, if you turn all of your homework in on time, I will convert your two unused late assignment credits into 2 extra credit points apiece.

     Final oral interview: As the final for this class, you will complete a 10-minute oral interview with me. The interview will be worth 40 homework points. I will provide you with preparation questions about two weeks before the end of the term. Interviews will be scheduled during finals week. Students who do not complete the interview will receive an incomplete in the class.

III. COURSE MATERIALS:
    All materials are available at the PCC bookstore. If you are unable to get a textbook or workbook right away, please let me know, and I can provide you with photocopies until you can get the book.

1.    The Text: Shmakov, Kristine, Пойдём: A Communicative
Approach to Second-year Russian. Keep your textbook in a three-ring binder. We will cover up through chapter 3 this quarter, so you can leave the later chapters at home. Bring your textbook to class every day.

2. The Workbook: Shmakov, Kristine, Homework RUS 201, 202, 203. All assignments will come from this book. Bring it to class every day.

3. The Grammar Reference Book: This is my present to your for taking second year. It contains a summary of all grammar essentials from first year, as well all of the grammar charts. Bring this book to class every day, sleep with it, commune with it, become one with it!

4. A Russian dictionary: If you do not already own it, I recommend purchasing Kenneth Katzner’s dictionary. It is the best ever written, and is the only dictionary you will ever need. If you’d like something inexpensive, the Pocket Oxford is good. Avoid small pocket dictionaries; they are filled with errors. Katzner’s dictionary is available in the reference section of the Sylvania library. The call number is 491.7321 K38 1994.

5. The Listening Comprehension materials: We will have occasional listening comprehension assignments. The sound files are on the course web page at http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov under the link Second year Russian listening comprehension homework-required. If you don’t have Internet access from home, you can use a computer in the Sylvania Language Lab in CT 235, at the Sylvania, or any other computer lab on campus to access the course web page.

Supplemental materials:
6. Supplementary oral exercises: There are supplemental oral audio
exercises to help you practice the material in each chapter. The sound files are on the course web page at http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov. The files are on the second year Russian page under the link called Second year Russian supplemental listening materials-optional. You can earn extra credit for using these materials.

7. Interactive online exercises, flashcards, study tools: Our course web page has tons of links to tools that you can use to study for this course at http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov. They are listed under Second year Russian web links. Make sure to use these each chapter. You can earn extra credit for using these materials.


IV. OTHER STUFF:
    Course web page: The class web page is located at: http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov  You will find homework assignments, supplemental web links and exercises for each chapter, all required listening comprehension files and supplemental listening comprehension files posted here. 

    Tutoring: Free Russian tutors are available at specific times on the ground floor of the CT building. Try to visit the tutors regularly, even if you are receiving a good grade out of this class. Remember that you can also come see me during my office hours or make an appointment at other times if you need help.

    Plagiarism and cheating: All work for this class must be completed on your own. The Russian tutors or other native speakers are not allowed to help you with or look over your homework. However, they can help you with exercises out of the book if you’re stuck on something. You are encouraged to have a study partner for this class, but you may not complete homework together. If you copy homework from another student or get help from a native speaker, you will receive a 0 on the assignment or your corrections. Repeated incidences of cheating or plagiarism are grounds for dismissal from the class and will be reported to the dean of students. You can find information on PCC student rights and responsibilities at: http://www.pcc.edu/about/policy/student-rights/

    Grading options and guidelines: All students will receive a letter grade for this class unless they make arrangements for another option. Detailed information about the grading system at PCC can be found at: http://www.pcc.edu/resources/student-records/grading/
    Pass/no pass: A grade of "P" represents satisfactory achievement which would have been graded "C" or better on the regular grading scale, but is given instead of a letter grade. If you would like a pass/no pass grade for this course, you must let me know by the end of the eighth  week of class. You also can rescind an earlier request for pass/no pass by the end of the eighth week. Pass grades do not compute into your GPA, but you do earn credit for the class.
    Audit: This grade option allows you to attend the course without receiving a grade or credit for the course. You still pay the same tuition, and must let me know that you’d like to audit the course by the end of the first three weeks of class. You cannot receive an audit if you miss more than 6 classes.

    Dropping or withdrawing from class: The last day you can receive a tuition refund if you drop this class is the second Friday of the quarter. If you drop by the end of the fourth week, you will not receive a W on your transcript. The end of the eighth week is the last day you can drop the class and receive a W. Detailed information about dropping classes can be found at: http://www.pcc.edu/registration/dropping.html

    Students with disabilities: If you have a documented disability and require a classroom adjustment or accommodation, you should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (www.pcc.edu/resources/disability) and provide me with the OSD Approved Academic Accommodation form as soon as possible. Please see me outside of class to discuss your needs.    

    Course content guide: A detailed course content guide for this class can be found at: http://www.pcc.edu/ccog/default.cfm?fa=ccog&subject=RUS&course=201 The content and requirements of this course may be adjusted in response to institutional, weather or class situations as needed, with adequate notice to students.

   

This is a tentative calendar for RUS 201. The pace will be adjusted as needed to suit the needs of the class. All homework assignments will be posted on the class webpage http://spot.pcc.edu/~kshmakov by the 6pm the day of class. If you are absent, you should check to see if we are having an in-class assignment the following class, so that you can prepare for it. If you have any questions about the homework, you can call me at (503) 977-4841 or email me at kshmakov @ pcc.edu. It is also a good idea to get phone numbers for a couple classmates.    

Day 1- Monday, September 21st
    Introduction to course.   
    Watch Live from Moscow episode 1.
    Ch. 1- Free time activity verbs; verbs that require an infinitive; impersonal     expressions; verb уметь. 

Day 2- Wednesday, September 23rd
    Ch. 1- Уметь vs. мочь; free time activity verbs; review verb conjugation and     patterns; discuss what you like to do during free time.   
       
Day 3- Monday, September 28th
    Watch LFM-episode 2.
    Ch. 1-Free time verbs conjugation practice;
    Cultural reading: What Russians like to do during free time.
       
Day 4- Wednesday, September 30th
    Ch. 1- Review of nominative case adjectives; review of accusative case-animate     and inanimate; new verbs that take direct objects in accusative case.
       
Day 5 – Monday, October 5th
    Watch LFM-episode 3.
    Ch. 1- New verbs that take accusative case.
    Literature: Первая любовь.
   
Day 6 – Wednesday, October 7th
    Ch. 2- Introduction to animal vocabulary; review of нравится; introduction to     animate accusative plural.
       
Day 7 – Monday, October 12th
    Watch LFM-episode 4.
    Ch. 2-Animal vocabulary; animate plural accusative case
   
Day 8 – Wednesday, October 14th
    Ch. 2- Cultural reading: Pets in Russia.
    Literature: Трое из Простовкашино;
     
Day 9 – Monday, October 19th
    Watch LFM ep. 5.
    Ch. 2- Review of imperfective/perfective verb pairs; introduction of new verb     pairs; review of use of aspect in past tense.

Day 10 – Wednesday, October 21st
    Ch. 2-Aspect in the past tense.

Day 11 – Monday, October 26th
    Watch LFM ep. 6
    Ch. 2- Aspect in the past tense; introduction to formation of imperfective and     perfective future.

Day 12 – Wednesday, October 28th
    Ch. 2-Conjugation and use of perfective future.
   
Day 13 – Monday, November 2nd
    Watch LFM ep. 7
    Ch. 2-Perfective future
    Ch. 3-Furniture vocabulary.     
   
Day 14 – Wednesday, November 4th
    Ch. 3- Furniture vocabulary; new adjectives; describing furniture; review of у     меня есть/нет; adjectives in the genitive case.

Day 15 – Monday, November 9th
    Watch LFM ep. 8.
    Ch. 3-Discussing preferences for where to live; adjectives in prepositional case.
    Culture text: Living conditions in Russia.
   
Day 16 – Wednesday, November 11th
    Veteran’s Day- No class.

    Ch. 3- Reading text: introduction to formation of     genitive plural.
   
Day 17 – Monday, November 16th
    Watch LFM ep. 9 part I
    Ch. 3- Discussing where you live.
    Literature: Сентиментальный роман.

Day 18 - Wednesday, November 18th
    Literature: Сентиментальный роман.   
    Ch. 3- Introduction to formation and usage of gentive plural; irregular genitive plural forms.

Day 19 – Monday, November 23rd
    Watch LFM ep. 9 part II
    Ch. 3-Genitive plural all day! 
   
Day 20 – Wednesday, November 25th
    Ch. 3-Counting system; prepositions of placement and describing where things are located.
   
Day 21- Monday, November 30th
    Watch LFM ep. 10.
    Ch. 3- Describing rooms and location of furniture.
     
    LATE HOMEWORK IS DUE NEXT CLASS. NO EXCEPTIONS.   

Day 22 – Wednesday, December 2nd
    Ch. 3- Describing rooms and location of furniture.
    Literature-Живая шляпа
    LATE HOMEWORK IS DUE TODAY. NO EXCEPTIONS.

    **Class party- Bring food for our day of gluttony!
   
Day 23- Monday, December 7th or Tuesday, December 9th:
    Finals week-Oral interviews. Come at your assigned time and woe be it to you if you’re late!