Russian
“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Winston S. Churchill
Head of Department: Mrs T Heath
Staff: Mrs A Altseva, Mrs E Azikhanova
Russian is part of a large and thriving Modern Languages Department. It is highly successful in terms of pupil/student enjoyment and is proud of its fine record of examination results at GCSE and A Level and university success.
The curriculum is designed to cater for students of high ability and is one which puts considerable intellectual demands on students. The Russian curriculum is constantly evolving to develop students’ linguistic skills and understanding of Russian culture, history, and literature. Students of all abilities make great progress and are always challenged to achieve their best.
The Russian curriculum at the Latymer School enables students to:
- Develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy.
- Express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently.
- Listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed.
- Deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary for them to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a wide range of contexts.
- Acquire new knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to a rich range of authentic spoken and written material including literary texts.
- Develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where Russian is spoken.
- Develop language learning skills both for immediate use and to prepare them for further Russian study and use in school, higher education or in employment.
Russian is taught from Year 8, as a second foreign language, right through to GCSE and A Level.
KEY STAGE 3
The Russian curriculum is constantly evolving to develop pupils’ linguistic skills and understanding of Russian culture, geography, history and literature.
In Year 8 we start by mastering Cyrillic alphabet which enables pupils to read and write fluently by the end of the Autumn term. Pupils learn everyday phrases and the basics of Russian grammar.
In Year 9 pupils develop all four linguistic skills further; learn grammar and work on the translation techniques; deepen their cultural knowledge through reading Russian fairy tales and abridged authentic literary texts. Pupils improve their listening skills through Russian Music and Films.
Year 8 and 9 pupils have the opportunity to participate in the Russian Department’s annual residential trip to Tallinn, Estonia, which takes place every July. During the trip, pupils visit museums connected to Russian and Soviet history, sample traditional local cuisine and attend Russian language lessons. The trip provides an excellent opportunity for pupils to deepen their understanding of the region’s history and culture while developing their Russian language skills in an engaging and immersive environment.
Key Stage 3 Russian is a great foundation for further Russian studies at GCSE.
Year 8
Basics: Alphabet, numbers; Family and Pets; Town and Home; Hobbies and Free Time.
Year 9
School; Jobs; Russian Geography and Holiday; Russian fairy tales; Russian Cultural element: Music, Film and Literature.
KEY STAGE 4
The GCSE Russian curriculum is designed help students of all abilities progress and develop a passion for language, through culturally engaging content. We follow the GCSE Pearson Edexcel Russian specification. Pupils undertake four assessments in speaking, reading, listening and writing at the end of each term starting in the Autumn Term of Year 10.
The Russian Department offers Key stages 4 and 5 students the opportunity to take part in our annual residential trips to countries of the former USSR.
In Year 11, we aim to take pupils well beyond the limited GCSE course, preparing them for further Sixth Form study.
Year 10
Grammatical cases; Town and holiday; Identity and culture (over two years); School.
Year 11
Future Aspirations, Study and Work; International and Global Dimension.
KEY STAGE 5
The A Level Russian curriculum offers inspiring and engaging themes – GCE Russian features familiar and popular themes, as well as some new content that provides clear links to some of the most fundamental and interesting aspects of the culture of Russian-speaking countries and communities. We study popular literary texts and films that include contemporary and more classical titles, together with authentic source materials from Russia. All themes are set in the context of Russia only.
Year 12 Text: The Queen of Spades by A. Pushkin.
Year 13 Film: Burnt by the Sun by N. Mikhalkov.
GCSE and A Level pupils are offered one-to-one weekly sessions with the Russian language assistant.
The Russian Department offers Key stages 4 and 5 students the opportunity to take part in our annual residential trips to countries of the former USSR.
Year 12
Theme 1: Developing Russian society: Russian youth; Education; World of work.
Theme 2: Politics and Culture; Media; Festivals and Traditions.
Year 13
Theme 1: Developing Russian society: Russian youth; education; World of work
Theme 2: Politics and Culture; Media; Festivals and Traditions.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Key Stage 4
- Russian film club.
- Annual trip (see below).
- Introduction to the Russian Film and Book study at the end of the GCSE course.
- One-to-one GCSE revision sessions with teachers.
- All National Russian Essay and Poetry competitions.
- One-to-one and group sessions with the language assistant.
- Russian books and films (available from the Department and the school’s library).
- Lectures and webinars.
Key Stage 5
- Oxbridge classes in Russian literature, politics and culture.
- Annual trip (see below).
- Russian newspapers, podcasts and blogs (pupils are introduced to them at the start of Year 12).
- Pupils made aware of cultural events in London.
- GCE pupils have attended Russian Language conference in Oxford High and lectures on the Queen of Spades; theatre production of the play.
- Film Club (all the films are based on the specific masterpieces of the Russian literature).
- One-to-one and group sessions with the language assistant.
- All National Russian essay competition. The participants have produced excellent analysis of the Russian literary works and displayed excellent knowledge of Russian language.
- Debating Society for GCE students.
- UCL SSEES link and updates on the lectures and seminars.
- Russian conference at Oxford High.
- Links with the former GCE Russian students.
Key Stage 4 and 5
Since 2022, our pupils have visited Estonia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Armenia. These trips provide a unique opportunity to experience the language and culture first-hand, greatly widening pupils’ horizons and deepening their understanding of the region. By interacting with native speakers and navigating real-life situations, pupils are able to practise and develop their Russian language skills in an authentic environment, building confidence and gaining a deeper appreciation of the cultures connected to the language they study.
DESTINATIONS
Our students often go on to study Russian or Russian- related courses at university (including Oxbridge). Russian, Russian and French/German, Linguistics, Russian and Geography, Russian and Economics and Business studies are very popular choices.
I'm forever grateful to Latymer's Russian department for providing an excellent framework to develop a love for language learning. Studying Russian has opened up a world of opportunities to me, both academically and personally."
Latymer Alumni