The course includes a small number of computerized laboratory experiments and experiences in which the student will perform experiments and analyze real data. The goal is to develop methods and case studies that advance the understanding of how cultures shape human and social behaviors and how they interact with other forces in human life. This is a beginning level Russian language course. The course takes a proficiency based approach to teaching basic skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Language is presented in communicative contexts illustrating cultural aspects of daily Russian life.
Special emphasis is given to developing oral competency.
One or two hours per day outside of class must be devoted to practicing language skills. In this course we will use films, readings and discussions to enhance our ability to analyze, understand and explain politics. The course is about political power, authority, leadership, ideologies, war, nationalism and resistance to authority. We will use major commercial films to explore some fundamental political problems regarding governments and societies. The central themes to be discussed in both the readings and the films will be tyranny and its impact on the people, resistance to tyranny and authority, and nationalism and war.