Level Descriptions

Explore our course catalog to see the courses offered in past years.

Level 1 Introductory Russian

RUSS 3102-3103-3104-3105
For students with little or no previous classroom instruction in Russian. Starting from scratch, students learn the alphabet, learn to read basic texts and understand spoken Russian, and learn to write and speak Russian in basic and predictable contexts (ordering a meal in a restaurant, asking directions on the street). Students master the basic grammatical structures of the language and acquire a beginning vocabulary, practiced in weekly compositions. Students completing this course typically have Novice High or Intermediate Low language skills.

To help beginners adapt to the intensive environment at Middlebury and prepare for the Language Pledge, Level 1 Russian will start online approximately three weeks before students arrive in Middlebury. Level 1 classes will begin in-person on opening weekend, as other students are completing the placement assessment. Participation in the pre-arrival program, which will include a group webinar and online exercises focused on alphabet learning and survival Russian phrases, is mandatory for Level 1 students. That is, students who apply to Level 1 Russian and enroll agree to complete all of the online exercises prior to their arrival at Middlebury as an academic requirement of the 8-week program. The date and time of the group webinar will be announced in the spring.

Level 1.5 Advanced Introductory Russian

RUSS 3198-3199-3200-3201
For students with approximately 100 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian; students placing into this course have usually had between one semester and one year of college Russian (at three hours per week). Students typically complete this course with Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid language skills.

Level 2 Basic Intermediate Russian

RUSS 3202-3203-3204-3205
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.

Level 2.5 Enhanced Intermediate Russian

RUSS 3298-3299-3300-3301
For students with approximately 200 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 1,700 words. We expect students to complete this course with Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High language skills.

Level 3 Advanced Intermediate Russian

RUSS 3302-3303-3304-3305
For students with 300 hours of prior formal classroom instruction in Russian. In this class students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and focus their attention on more challenging structures of the language such as participles, comparative forms, and verbs of motion. At the end of the summer most students have an active vocabulary approaching 2,000 words. Readings for the class include poetry, short stories, and longer prose works, as well as essays and news articles. Significant time is devoted to conversation practice on assigned topics. Students typically complete this course with Intermediate High to Advanced Low language skills.

Level 4 Advanced Russian

RUSS 3402-3403-3404-3405
For students with at least 400 hours of prior formal instruction in Russian, or fewer hours of formal instruction but a semester or more in a country where Russian is widely spoken. In this class, students tackle the more complicated grammatical and syntactical structures of the Russian language and significantly increase their vocabulary by studying Russian root-based semantic groups, idioms, and synonyms. The course focuses a good deal of attention on the development of students’ lexical competence (active vocabulary of 2,500 words) by acquainting them with prototypical models of word formation and derivation processes of contemporary standard Russian. Class work is devoted to the detailed analysis of Russian films, as well as the reading of contemporary poems, short stories, essays, news articles, and excerpts of longer prose works. Students give short presentations on the writers whose works they read. Significant time is devoted to conversation practice on sophisticated topics. Students typically complete this course with Advanced Low to Advanced Mid language skills.