Olga Ogurtsova, Russian Program Coordinator and Faculty Director of CLS.
Since its inception in 1983, the Russian program has become a model of immersive language learning at CLS. Over the years, we have consistently offered four levels of Russian, with one of the standout courses being Advanced Russian, designed for students eager to deepen their language and literary skills. Our experienced instructors are dedicated to a communicative approach, selecting textbooks that match the intensive and fast-paced nature of the program. These materials reflect the realities of post-Soviet Russian society, ensuring students gain relevant and up-to-date insights.
Cultural immersion is a cornerstone of our program. Understanding Russian culture is not only crucial for language proficiency but also for appreciating a country with a rich history and immense global significance. Our faculty take great pride in introducing students to a wide array of cultural expressions—from music and film to literature, poetry, and even cartoons. Each day in the Russian program promises to be both challenging and enriching, leaving students with a deeper understanding of the language and the vibrant culture behind it.
Available Courses
The main goal of our first-year Russian course is to make students comfortable with the new language they are starting to study by working on and enhancing the four skills: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. By the end of the two semesters students can conduct a conversation on general topics such as family, hobbies, jobs and studies, favorite foods, hometowns, and everyday routine.
In the first year we cover all major grammar concepts necessary for communicating in Russian and to place students on the path to success in their future Russian language studies. Our class emphasizes group participation, creating life-like situations, in which the students are forced to use their language abilities by incorporating the grammar and vocabulary that they learn.
Cultural competency is an inseparable component of the language instruction: we watch a number of films, accompanied by historical and cultural presentations and discussions to deepen the students’ understanding and appreciation of Russian culture, as well as to keep students motivated and interested.
COURSES
100A. First-Year Russian I
105A. First-Year Russian II
DETAILS
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
Second-year Russian language students will significantly expand their knowledge of the grammatical concepts they began to study in the first year of instruction and will become proficient with many other more advanced grammar concepts. Students will constantly practice newly acquired language skills in communicative contexts such as conversations with each other and with the instructor, presentations on the current lesson topics, and role-playing situations that may arise when communicating with native speakers. The course will also help students understand many cultural aspects of life in Russia and some peculiarities of the mentality of Russian people, often rooted in its historical past. In addition to the communicative study of grammar, students will watch two popular Russian cartoons, “Malysh and Karlson” and “Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka”, which are considered part of the golden fund of Soviet and Russian animation and engage in stimulating analysis of their scripts. The course uses the textbook V Puti (ISBN-978-1-03-212940-2).
All classes are conducted in Russian.
COURSES
110A. Second-Year Russian I
115A. Second-Year Russian II
DETAILS
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
The task of third-year Russian is to master vocabulary and language skills by concentrating on oral communication and self-expression. The course increases proficiency in the four skills by developing fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Russian.
Language acquisition and cultural awareness are integrated through the viewing, discussion, and analysis of classic and contemporary Russian films without subtitles.
All classes are conducted in Russian.
COURSES
210A. Third-Year Russian I
215A. Third-Year Russian II
DETAILS
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
This course is designed to help students achieve Advanced High proficiency or higher in Russian, establishing strong skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will build a solid foundation in Russian vocabulary while continuing to develop these four key language skills. The course is highly interactive, with students engaging in class discussions, debates, and presentations.
To deepen their understanding of the language, students will read a chapter daily from Viktoria Tokareva’s novella First Try in Russian, using it as a springboard for discussions on various topics. The course also includes lectures on Russian culture, featuring video materials and authentic readings that explore essential aspects of everyday life, significant figures, events, and issues across the Russian-speaking world.
In addition to these activities, the course provides an intensive review of Russian grammar, contextualized within the novella readings. Students will further enhance their language acquisition and cultural awareness through the viewing, discussion, and analysis of classic and contemporary Russian films.
The course places a strong emphasis on helping students develop their ideas and articulate their viewpoints in paragraph-length discourse, while also encouraging the development of their own style of self-expression. Each student will have a weekly one-on-one meeting with the instructor to focus on an individual topic of interest, such as history, military translation, sociology, or other specialized areas. All classes are conducted entirely in Russian, ensuring an immersive learning experience.
COURSES
310A. Advanced Russian I
315A. Advanced Russian II
DETAILS
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
Textbooks
Russian Full Circle [978-0-300-18283-5]
Russian Grammar in Context, 2nd edition [978-1-032-12940-2]
Materials will be made available by the instructor. Students do not need to purchase a textbook.
Focus on Russian [978-0-471-10998-3].
Political Russian: An Intermediate Course in Russian Language for International Relations, National Security and Socio-Economics.
“My Russian instructor at CLS was always knowledgeable, well-prepared, encouraging, and enthusiastic. The class covered an amazing amount of information. I met all the learning goals that I had set for myself. Being a language professional by trade and having studied and taught foreign languages myself, I can attest to the professionalism of the staff and the benefit of the program. When I was at CLS 14 years ago, I was impressed, and that is the reason I returned this year. I hope to return to the program again in the future.”
Ryan H, Advanced Russian Student
“From day one CLS challenged and expanded my language skills in the four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Between translating yesterday’s Russian newspaper articles about U.S.-Russia relations and having heated debates in the guise of various political figures, we barely had time to note the daily improvement in our skills. By the time of the final though, it became apparent that we had all progressed beyond our expectations. The program is intensive and certainly demanding, but I am convinced that I got out of it even more than I put in.”
Alyssa, Third Year Russian Student
“From my first day on campus I knew next to nothing about the Russian language or culture. I started out painstakingly trying to keep up with just the alphabet for the first week. Even though I had studied another foreign language before, I had forgotten how hard it can be in the beginning. I studied and did my homework for hours every night during CLS. While it was a little overwhelming at first, I’m extremely glad I stuck through it.
“At the end of the program, I felt like I had gained a vast gateway of knowledge into the language. CLS gave me an opportunity to start my second year of Russian as a first year student at Beloit College. As of now I feel more confident in my ability to speak, read, and write in Russian. I fully recommend this program because not only does it challenge you to enhance your language skills or to start from scratch, but you also gain unforgettable memories. The professors are amazing and are always willing to take the time to explain harder concepts.
“I’m coming back to CLS this summer to strengthen my current language skills and to grasp an even greater understanding of the language before I study abroad. CLS brings everyone together and creates a family of fellow language enthusiasts building new and inspiring memories based off the foundation of learning.”
