Tatiana Smorodinskaya
Associate Director, School of Russian
Middlebury College
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Diploma, Moscow State University
I graduated from Moscow State University, department of Russian language and literature in 1983 and received my Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1998. In Russia, I worked as an instructor and researcher at the Center for Intensive Foreign Language Instruction (Prof. Galina Kitaigorodskaya's school). After graduate school, I started teaching at Middlebury college, where I am currently an Associate Professor of Russian. In the summer school I taught third level of Russian for several years, but this year I will be teaching a graduate course on film adaptations. My research interests include Russian poetry, film and contemporary Russian culture.
Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
RUSS 3202 - Basic Intermediate Russian
For students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class, students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid language skills.
LNGSummer 2008, Summer 2009
RUSS 3203 - Basic Intermediate Russian
For students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class, students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid language skills.
Summer 2008, Summer 2009
RUSS 3204 - Basic Intermediate Russian
For students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class, students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid language skills.
Summer 2008, Summer 2009
RUSS 3205 - Basic Intermediate Russian
For students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class, students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Students typically complete this course with intermediate-mid language skills.
Summer 2008
RUSS 6679 - Russian Lit on the Screen
Russian Literature on the Screen
The course will investigate the relationship between two arts: literature and film. Literary works have always attracted filmmakers. The recent popularity of TV miniseries based on classical works of Russian literature has heated debates on the issues of fidelity and the supposed inferiority of film to literature. We will discuss the limits of artistic freedom in adapting literary original to the screen, cinematic means of the transformation of text into visual narrative, and different approaches to film adaptation analysis. We will examine attempts of Russian filmmakers throughout the history of the Russian/Soviet cinema to adapt various literary genres to the screen: poems, short stories, novels and drama. The course will incorporate readings of the original works of literature and detailed analysis of the cinematic adaptation. In addition to class meetings, weekly screenings will be required.
Summer 2010
INTL 0701 - REES Senior Thesis
Russian and East European Studies Senior Thesis
(Approval Required)
Fall 2009, Spring 2010
RUSS 0101 - Beginning Russian
Beginning Russian
This course is an approach to the language using four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). It provides a firm control of the sound system and the structure of Russian. Although much emphasis is put on the spoken colloquial language, reading, writing, and a conscious understanding of the fundamentals of grammar prepare a strong foundation for work in advanced courses or for reading in specialized fields. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. drill.
Fall 2010
RUSS 0102 - Beginning Russian
Beginning Russian
This course is a continuation of RUSS 0101. (RUSS 0101 or equivalent)
Winter 2009, Winter 2011
RUSS 0103 - Beginning Russian ▲
Beginning Russian
This course is a continuation of the approach used in RUSS 0102, but with increased emphasis on reading. (RUSS 0102) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. drill.
Spring 2011, Spring 2012
RUSS 0201 - Intermediate Russian
Intermediate Russian
Systematic review of grammar and development of the spoken and written skills attained in Beginning Russian. (RUSS 0103 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. drill
Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010
RUSS 0202 - Intermediate Russian ▲
Intermediate Russian
Continuation of the approach used in RUSS 0201. Reading of contemporary Russian texts, conversation, and written assignments in Russian based on reading assignments. (RUSS 0201 or equivalent) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. drill
Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012
RUSS 0311 - Russian Cult and Civ I ▹
Russian Culture and Civilization I
This course offers a bilingual approach to the study of Russian culture from its origins to the mid-nineteenth century. Works of literature, art, and music will be examined in their historical context. Particular emphasis will be devoted to the improvement of oral and written skills. (RUSS 0202 or equivalent) (formerly RUSS 0411) 3 hrs. lect
Fall 2008, Fall 2012
RUSS 0312 - Russ Cult and Civ II ▲
Russian Culture and Civilization II
This course is a continuation of RUSS 0311 but may be taken independently. It offers a bilingual approach to the study of Russian culture from the second half of the nineteenth century to the present. Works of literature, art, and music will be examined in their historical and political context. Particular attention will be devoted to the improvement of oral and written skills. (RUSS 0202 or equivalent) (formerly RUSS 0412) 3 hrs. lect.
Spring 2010, Spring 2012
RUSS 0500 - Advanced Independent Study ▲ ▹
Advanced Studies in Language and Literature
Supervised individual study for highly qualified students. (Approval required)
Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013
RUSS 0700 - Senior Independent Study ▲ ▹
Senior Independent Study
(Approval required)
Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013
RUSS 0704 - Senior Seminar ▹
Senior Seminar (in Russian)
This seminar topic changes every year. Recent seminar titles have included Research, Recast, Relay, The History of Russian Poetry, and Russian Drama. This course will provide students with the skills to identify and utilize Russian sources, provide professional quality written summaries and analyses, make oral presentations in Russian, and produce a substantial written assignment and project. (Senior Majors) 3 hrs. sem. (T. Smorodinska)
Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2012
