Slavic Courses Spring 2025

(4 credits)

• MTWRF 9:55 – 10:45 am

Course Description: Five hours a week focusing on speaking, listening, reading and writing Russian, with an introduction to Russian culture. No previous knowledge of Russian expected.

Prerequisites: None.

(4 credits)

• Lecture 1: MTWRF 9:55 – 10:45 am
• Lecture 2: MTWRF 12:05 – 12:55 pm
• Lecture 3: MTWRF 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: Anna Tumarkin

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 101.

Prerequisites: SLAVIC 101. Open to first-year students.

(4 credits)

• MTWR 11:00 – 11:50 am

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 111 — First Semester Polish.

Prerequisites: None

(Meets-with GNS 370.)

(4 credits)

• Lecture 1: MTWRF 1:20 – 2:10 pm
• Lecture 2: MTWRF 11:00 – 11:50 am

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 203.

Prerequisites: SLAVIC 203. Open to first-year students.

(This course is also offered to graduate students as SLAVIC 304.)

(4 credits)

• MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 207 — Third Semester Polish.

Prerequisites: None

(Meets-with Slavic 304.)

(3 credits)

• TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm

Instructor: Lukasz Wodzynski

(4 credits)

• Lecture: TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm
• Discussion 1: W 9:55 – 10:45 am
• Discussion 2: W 11:00 – 11:50 am
• Discussion 3: W 1:20 – 2:10 pm
• Discussion 4: W 2:25 – 3:15 pm

Instructor: Irina Shevelenko

Course Description: This course is designed as an interdisciplinary introduction to Russian civilization whose formation began in the northern part of Eurasia in the medieval period. From early on, Russian culture became connected in myriad ways with the multiethnic and multicultural space of the vast part of present-day Eurasia, and we will explore and analyze these ties. This course examines Russian history and Russia of the present day, relying on a variety of disciplinary perspectives and drawing on the expertise of guest speakers from UW-Madison and other institutions. This course aims to impart a basic knowledge of Russian history, geography, literature, art, religious traditions, philosophy, economy, and politics, to provide students with the tools to begin to grasp the complex issues with which Russian culture and society present us.

(3-4 credits)

• Lecture 1 (4 credits): MWF 2:25 – 3:15 pm
• Lecture 2 (3 credits): MWF 2:25 – 3:15 pm
• Discussion: T 2:25 – 3:15 pm

(3 credits)

• MWF 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: Sara Karpukhin

(Crosslisted with LitTrans 266.)

(3 credits)

• MWF 9:55 – 10:45 am

Instructor: Alexandra Walter

Course Description: A review of several major aspects of Russian grammar, focusing on the use of complex syntax in speech and writing. Read and discuss literary works and other Russian-language texts. Students will develop writing proficiency through compositions on a variety of topics. The goals of this course are to improve students’ reading fluency, writing skills, and command of Russian grammar and structure. We will focus on the use of complex syntax and undertake a thorough review of several major aspects of Russian grammar (including the imperative, verbal aspect, participles, comparatives and verbs of motion). Grammar topics will be presented and practiced using the textbook Panorama. In addition, grammatical forms will be contextualized by reading literary works as well as songs and articles. While the development of speaking skills is not a primary goal of this course (as it is in Slavic 315/316), class discussion of grammar, lexicon, and texts will be largely conducted in Russian.

(3 credits)

• TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: In this course, students explore both traditional and evolving notions of culture in Poland, review grammar, and build vocabulary related to the cultural topics studied. The course places a strong emphasis on speaking and reading. Reading assignments include short stories, press articles, poetry, and a novel. Additionally, the program incorporates films, music, and visual arts.

Open to Freshmen

Contact Krzysztof Borowski (borowski3@wisc.edu) or Joanna Schuth (jschuth@wisc.edu), with any questions about the course or appropriate placement.

Prerequisites: Slavic 208 or a placement test. Contact Krzysztof Borowski (borowski3@wisc.edu) or Joanna Schuth (jschuth@wisc.edu) for placement test

(3 credits)

Instructor: Ewa Miernowska 

Course Description: The course teaches Modern Standard Polish, focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and oral comprehension at both the beginner (September, October) and intermediate levels (November, December). Emphasis is placed on oral communication, learning grammatical patterns, and expanding active vocabulary. Additionally, the course explores Polish culture through films, music, and media.

Prerequisites: No prerequisite. Course open to Freshmen

L&S Credit – Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

(3 credits)

• MTWR 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: Continuation of SLAVIC 207 — Third Semester Polish for graduate students. Includes additional work at the graduate level. Open to all graduate students and taken for graduate credit.

(3 credits)

• TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructor: Krzysztof Borowski

Course Description: The aim of the course is to help students to extend their knowledge of the language, as well as to enhance their literacy skills, and cultural awareness. Class activities are largely based on contemporary Polish prose and on articles from the Polish press related to contemporary Polish society. Students expend their vocabulary by engaging with texts from different genres, historical periods and perspectives. The syllabus includes working on grammar with written exercises and compositions. The course has a strong emphasis on speaking. Students work in groups, make presentations, and debate different issues in class discussions. A study of Polish culture is offered also through films, music and media.

Prerequisites: Slavic 204 OR placement test for other students including Freshmen.

(L&S Credit – Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S. Counts for the Slavic Certificate)

(3 credits)

• TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructor: Anna Tumarkin

Course Description: The goals of this course are to improve students’ listening comprehension and speaking skills in Russian, focusing on the development of syntax and conversational patterns to increase the complexity and length of discourse students can understand and create. Students will discuss topics related to contemporary Russian culture and society and work with authentic reading and listening materials, including literary texts, newspaper articles, songs, and film.

(3 credits)

• TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

Instructor: Lukasz Wodzynski

(3 credits)

• TR 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Instructor: Maksim Hanukai

Course Description: This course introduces students to the life and works of Anton Chekhov (1860-1904). Through close reading and discussion of his short stories, novellas, and plays, students will learn about Chekhov’s treatment of such topics as childhood, religion, love and infidelity, death, mental illness, colonial expansion and the manifold dramas of modern life, while paying close attention to his developing artistic views and literary technique. All readings will be in English.

Prerequisites: None

(Meets-with LitTrans 220.)

(3 credits)

• MWF 12:05 – 12:55 pm

Instructor: Sara Karpukhin

Course Description: Second in a two-semester course sequence, this course focuses on those topics in modern Russian cultural history that are most often discussed by Russians and serve as the basis for contemporary political and media discourse. The primary aim of the course, the second one in a two-course sequence, is to offer an overview of those aspects of Russian history and culture which are most relevant in Russia today. The course will include a survey of the most important historical events of Russian history whose purpose is to introduce you to the discussion of Russian culture in Russian. There will be no separate discussion of grammar and I will not correct your grammar in conversation as long as everyone understands your meaning. We will continually practice all four skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing), but always in application to historical and cultural knowledge.

(3 credits)

• MWF 11:00 – 11:50 am

Instructor: Sara Karpukhin

Course Description: A focus on development of reading, writing, and speaking skills and on the interpretation of texts in their historical and cultural context. This course is the final course in the Russian language sequence required for the Russian major (either Russian Language & Literature or Russian Language & Civilization). It will focus on development of reading, writing, and speaking skills in the interpretative (interpreting written and audio/video materials), interpersonal (speaking with others), and presentational (oral presentations to the class and written compositions) modes. The goal of this course is to enable students to progress in language proficiency from the Intermediate to the Advanced level in reading and listening, and to the Intermediate High level in speaking and writing. In addition, the course will enrich students’ cultural knowledge through reading and discussion of literary texts.

(2 credits)

• M 2:30 – 4:15 pm

Instructor: Irina Shevelenko

Course Description: A graduate introductory course to 18th century Russian literature.

(2 credits)

• TR 1:20 – 2:10 pm

Instructor: David S. Danaher

Course Description: The main purpose of this course is to provide advanced students of Russian with a theoretical and, above all, practical introduction to the linguistic structure of Contemporary Standard Russian. The first part of the course is devoted to the sound system (phonetics and phonology), the second part to inflection (declension and conjugation). We will also make strategic forays into cognitive-cultural linguistics, which will be the basis of our two in-class presentations.

This course is designed both to systematize three or more years of study of the Russian language as well as to provide students with the basic tools necessary to continue the study of Russian at more advanced instructional levels or outside of an academic context (independently in work, research, or in-country settings). For students who intend to become teachers of Russian, this course is an introduction to the inner workings of the language. The course also necessarily serves as a general introduction to linguistics (what is language and how is it structured?) that uses Russian data for illustration.

As instructor, I will facilitate the achievement of the course objectives by providing you with a framework in which to learn, but I cannot achieve the objectives or learn for you. Only independent work and active assimilation of the course content on your part will result in the successful attainment of all the course goals and your own personal ones. Progress in this respect will be measured by regular homework, active participation in class, a partly written and partly oral exam, and two in-class presentations.

The course is 2cr. The instructional mode for this course is face-to-face meetings (two hours per week of class time) with time devoted to homework; credit hours are met according to the traditional Carnegie definition. Course materials will be available on our Canvas site.

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor

(1 credit)

• R 2:30 – 4:00 pm

Instructor: Anna Tumarkin

Course Description: This course is designed and required for current Slavic Department Russian-language Teaching Assistants and provides important professional development in course design, lesson planning, and assessment. Course participants work cooperatively to develop course activities and assessment instruments, and will learn how to identify and solve problems in the classroom.

Prerequisites: Teaching assistant in Russian. Graduate or professional standing.

(3 credits)

• T 2:30 – 5:00 pm

Instructor: Maksim Hanukai

Course Description: This course introduces graduate students to Moscow Conceptualism—a wide-ranging and intellectually rich movement in contemporary art, performance, and literature that emerged in the late-Soviet period and continues to exert a significant influence in the present day. Discussions and readings will focus on the social and political context informing this movement, its main works and representatives, and topics of current and future research. Among the artists whose work we will examine will be: Vitaly Komar and Alexander Melamid, Ilya Kabakov and Erik Bulatov, Andrei Monastyrsky, the Lianozovo Group (Nekrasov, Kholin, Satunovsky, Sapgir, Kropivnitsky), Lev Rubinshtein, Dmitri Prigov, Vladimir Sorokin, and Pavel Pepperstein.

Prerequisites: None

(1 credit)

• 2:30 – 5:00 pm

(This is a modular section that meets February 3, 2025 thru May 2, 2025 (Session Code CME, 5 weeks of instruction))