Russian is an East Slavic language and is spoken in regional dialects. The modern dialect of Moscow is used in the Washington Academy of Languages’ instructional programs. Come join us for classes!
Schedule
Registration for Winter Quarter 2024 ends December 31, 2023. Confirmation of class (or cancellation depending on enrollment) will be sent out on January 2, 2024.
If you would like a notification when a new schedule becomes available, please enter your email here.
If you see “In person” in Scheduling Notes, the class meets in person; otherwise it’s an online class via Zoom.
Class |
Instructor |
Days |
Time |
Start date |
End date |
Scheduling Notes |
| Russian 1 | Tatiana Kuzina | Thur | 7:00 – 8:50PM | 1/11/24 | 3/14/24 | |
| Russian 3 | Irina Spinosa | Thur | 7:00 – 8:50PM | 1/11/24 | 3/14/24 | |
| Russian 4 | Tatiana Kuzina | Tue | 6:30 – 8:20PM | 1/9/24 | 3/12/24 | |
| Russian 6 | Irina Spinosa | Mon | 7:00 – 9:05PM | 1/8/24 | 3/18/24 | 9 125-min classes; No class 1/15, 2/19 |
| Russian 7 | Pamela Jeffcoat | Thur | 7:00 – 8:50PM | 1/11/24 | 3/14/24 | In person |
| Russian 13 | Irina Spinosa | Sat | 10:00 – 11:50AM | 1/13/24 | 3/16/24 | |
| Russian 17 | Irina Spinosa | Tue | 7:00 – 8:50PM | 1/9/24 | 3/12/24 | |
| Russian Culture through Cinema | Anastasiia Sharmarina | Thur | 5:00 – 6:50PM | 1/11/24 | 3/14/24 | In person |
All classes meet online via Zoom. To sign up for classes other than LVL 1, please first complete our online placement test and let the office know upon completion. Placement tests are reviewed during registration period. If you don’t see a test for the language you are interested in studying, please reach out to wal at cityu.edu We will try to arrange a phone placement with our faculty.
All classes are 18.5 hours. Tuition is $400. Without payment of tuition, your registration is received but remains incomplete. Level 1 classes must have 4 complete registrations to run; level 2+ will run on a minimum of 3 complete registrations.
If you would like a notification when a new schedule becomes available, please enter your email here.
Click here for textbook information.
If you have any questions, please contact wal at cityu.edu
Levels
Russian 1
The Level 1 Russian class is a 10-week introductory course to the language and culture of Russia. It is intended for learners with no experience learning Russian. The emphasis is on basic speaking and getting comfortable with the language, but with a good grammatical foundation. Topics include salutations and introductions, ordering food, talking about professions, family, daily activities, asking and providing information, etc. Motivated, diligent students can expect to finish with proficiency levels in the Novice Low (ACTFL) or A1 (CEFR) ranges.
Communicative competence:
By the end of the course, students will be able to maintain simple conversations in the present tense. They will be able to greet, introduce themselves and other people, say good-bye in formal and informal ways. They will be able to order or buy food at a cafe or store, buy clothes, use expressions of courtesy, use numbers from 0 to 100, use question words Who? What? Why? Where?, talk about professions and occupations, daily activities, and ask/express location. Students will also master the Cyrillic alphabet, be able to read basic texts and sentences in Russian, and spell key vocabulary.
Grammatical competence:
In addition to vocabulary and phonetics, the students will be exposed to the essential structure of the language necessary to advance to the next level. The students will learn three genders of Russian nouns as well as their singular and plural forms in the Nominative case; personal and possessive pronouns and their gender and plural forms in the Nominative Case; the learners will be introduced to the Nominative and Prepositional Cases, and verbs of 1st and 2nd conjugations in the Present Tense.
Russian 2
The Level 2 Russian class is a 10-week course of the Russian language and culture. It is intended for learners who know the Cyrillic Alphabet, basic vocabulary, grammar and conversational phrases. In Level 2 class students will learn how to use nouns in the Prepositional and Accusative Cases, how to conjugate verbs in the present and use them in the past tense. Adjectives and adverbs will be introduced. Topics include family, daily routine, expressing likes and dislikes, delight and dismay, visiting places and countries, home, weather, character and personality. Motivated, diligent students can expect to finish with proficiency levels in the Novice Low (ACTFL) or A1 (CEFR) ranges.
Communicative competence:
By the end of the course, students will be able to maintain simple conversations in the present and past tense. They will be able to talk about their family, daily schedule, weather, vacation, hobbies and interests. They will learn how to use verbs and adjectives to describe objects and people. Students will also write short texts, listen to songs and memorize short poems.
Grammatical competence:
In addition to vocabulary and phonetics, the students will be exposed to the essential structure of the language necessary to advance to the next level. The students will learn verb conjugations and past tense forms. Many exercises will be dedicated to mastering the Prepositional Case of the nouns. Students will learn how to agree adjectives with nouns in gender and number.
Russian 3
At this level, participants become proficient enough in Russian to be able to communicate with others about such topics as schedules, shopping, meeting people, telephone conversations and cooking. Grammar: accusative case of special modifiers, the dative case of pronouns and indirect objects, genitive case of nouns and adjectives, and verbs of motion. Imperfective and perfective verb stems and the future tense are also studied.
Russian 4
This course reviews grammar presented in previous levels. Indirect speech, impersonal constructions, imperatives, instrumental case, and more verbs of motion are covered. During this course, participants further develop their facility in discussing recreational and cultural interests and events, particularly those related to popular Russian culture. More ways to express needs, wishes, dates and plans are discussed.
Required Materials:
Russian 5
This course continues case study of all cases of nouns and adjectives, comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs. We learn colors, continue more complex time expressions, use “someone/something” and “anyone/anything”, and use reflexive pronouns. Topics: weights and measurements, sickness and health, holidays, commands and invitations, expressing wishes and making toasts.
Russian 6
Russian 7
Prerequisite: Completion of Russian 6 or placement
Russian 8
Prerequisite: Completion of Russian 7 or placement
Russian Intermediate Conversation
Prerequisite: Completion of Russian 8 or placement
The Russian Intermediate Conversation course is focused on increasing comprehension and fluency in the language, expanding active vocabulary, and applying foundational grammar. It is intended for learners who have completed Russian 8 or who demonstrate an Intermediate level of proficiency. Discussion on topics of interest will help students to express their ideas clearly, effectively, and accurately. The course is customized to fit the needs of class members. Motivated, diligent students can expect to finish with higher oral proficiency than they started, typically within the Intermediate (ACTFL) or B1-B2 (CEFR) ranges.
Communicative competence: By the end of the course, students will be able to maintain conversations and deliver speeches on a variety of topics. Students will speak with improved accuracy, speed, rhythm, and cultural appropriateness (formality, idiomatic usage, phrasing, etc.), and they will listen with improved ability to comprehend explicit and implicit meaning. During the course, students will also develop the strategies and the confidence needed to speak and listen effectively in real contexts outside the classroom.
Grammatical competence: Students will improve the application of previously introduced grammar structures, and develop new grammar knowledge as needed to advance the communicative goals of the course. Grammar instruction and application are customized to fit the particular needs of the students in each class.
Required Materials:
Баско, Н.В. (2016). We communicate in Russian in different situations (Общаемся на русском в разных ситуациах). Moscow: Русский Язык Курсы. (ISBN: 9785883374103 – Use this to search for book online)
Speak Better Russian: A Conversation Manual (online PDF)
Recommended Materials:
Offord, D. and Gogolitsyna, N. (2005). Using Russian: A guide to contemporary usage (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. (ISBN: 9780521547611 – Use this to search for book online)
Russian Culture Through Cinema
Prerequisite: The class is conducted in English. Students are not required to know the Russian language.
This class is for students who would like to learn more about the changing culture and customs of Russia through selected Russian films (with subtitles). The instructor will use draw from these cinematic texts to deepen learners’ understanding of Russian culture and history. This is not a class about the Russian film industry and will not focus on the technical aspects of filmmaking. Students will watch the films selected for this class at home and come to class, well prepared to ask questions and share thoughts on the plot and characters.
Custom Program
WAL can design a special language program for you or your group. Custom classes are planned with your needs and objectives in mind. WAL has the materials and instructional staff to provide you with an outstanding experience! Choose the number of hours you want to study and the dates of your study and we will design a program just for you.
Custom Programs may be contracted in 10-hour blocks that must be used within 5 weeks. Request a Custom Program here.
Corporate Programs
Communication is always key, especially in the world of business. Our experienced instructors are ready to come to your office with a tailored, industry-specific approach to language instruction. Program content is customized to meet the needs of individual companies.
Instruction requires a minimum of 10 hours total and a minimum of 1.5 hours per lesson. Programs are generally scheduled on weekdays. Meeting dates and times are flexible. Instruction can be delivered at corporate sites or at our downtown office.
Please contact us at 206-239-4789 or wal@cityu.edu for more information or to receive quote.
Tuition
| Class Type | Cost |
| Evening & Day Classes | $400 (effective 7/1/2019) |
| Custom Programs | $700/10 hours |
| Shared Custom Programs | $450/10 hours per person (2-3 students) |
| Specialized Programs | $750/10 hours |