Russian - A Level

Russian is a living and evolving language. During the A Level you will study a variety of topics through the medium of the language and have the opportunity to gain a greater awareness of the concerns and interests of Russian speaking countries and peoples. You will develop the ability to speak and understand Russian, and will equally have been exposed to a number of aspects of Russia’s historical and contemporary culture that have produced and developed the language.

As a variety of social issues are addressed during the study of Russian A Level, you will have the opportunity to learn about and debate current political, demographic and cultural concerns. You will also gain a broad understanding of Russian history and conduct in depth analyses of examples of Russian literature and Arts.

What will I study in Russian?

AS Units 1 & 2
Spoken Expressions & Responses in Russian: This unit is designed to build on your ability to manipulate and comprehend the spoken language. You will develop knowledge of vocabulary and grammar that will help you to respond to questions in a confident, efficient manner. You will engage in discussions in Russian on topics such as youth culture and concerns; lifestyle, health and fitness; and training and employment.

Understanding & Written Responses in Russian: Based on the same topics as above, you will now learn language skills that will build your confidence and ability in communicating in written Russian. This unit is divided into three sections and focuses on the relationship between listening, reading and writing. For these different sections you will be required to work on retrieving and conveying information on the basis of printed and recorded material in Russian.

A2 Units 3 & 4
Understanding & Spoken Responses in Russian: By engaging in debates where you will have to present your views on issues and develop convincing arguments to support your opinion, you will develop more sophisticated, fluent spoken skills. You will also deal with unseen spoken material in spontaneous discussions using the knowledge of Russian culture and society acquired during the AS Level.

Understanding & Written Responses in Russian: In addition to the general knowledge of Russian culture covered in the AS, you will now study Russian customs, traditions and religious beliefs, and national and international events and literature and the arts. For the research-based essay you will be encouraged to show personal initiative and creativity in constructing a project on a relevant topic of your own choice.

How will I be assessed?

Oral exams take the form of spoken presentation and conversation – for example, a debate in which you must express a stance on this topic and defend this stance in a spoken conversation. Written papers involve translating from English into Russian and a research-based essay in Russian.

Do I need to have studied Russian before?

Ideally, you should have achieved a B or above at GCSE Level or reached an equivalent standard by other means. However, students who have no previous knowledge of Russian but can demonstrate an exceptional ability at languages may be considered suitable for the course.

Which subjects complement Russian?

Other modern or historical languages, History, Geography and English Literature are well suited to Russian. However, languages generally combine well with all A Levels

Which careers can follow a study of Russian?

All professions like to have recruits with a language. The nature of the modern world makes Russian particularly suited to those working in transnational industries and financial institutions. Lawyers, bankers and a variety of business executives value this qualification