Russian is the official language of the Russian Federation and is widely used as a common language across many former nations of the Soviet Republic. It is also one of the official languages of the United Nations, and Russian‑speaking communities formed by immigrants from the former Soviet Union can be found in countries such as Israel and the United States. Russia is the closest geographical neighbor to Japan, and the two countries share a long history of deep cultural interaction. Studying the Russian language and Russian culture is therefore highly meaningful for understanding our neighboring country and for broadening our international perspective.
Curriculum
Basic Russian
First year students take “Basic Russian,” which meets twice a week as a single, continous course. The aim of “Basic Russian” is to develop fundamental communicative competence in the language. Through grammar exercises and extensive use of reading and listneing materials, students will cultivate not only reading comprehension but also clear, intelligible pronunciation and effective listening skills. In addition, the course fosters an understanding of the cultural background of the Russian language and the domestic and international affairs of the countries where Russian is spoken.
Advanced Russian
In the second year, students take “Intermediate Russian,” which meets once a week. In “Intermediate Russian I/II,” students study intermediate‑level grammar while also learning linguistic approaches to Russian phonology and grammar, and they develop precise reading comprehension skills. In “Intermediate Russian III/IV,” after completing intermediate grammar, students study selected topics from advanced grammar and further strengthen their reading proficiency through close reading of authentic Russian texts.