European Languages and Cultures - Russian

Would you like to become an expert on the cultures, languages and politics of Europe?

If you choose Russian as a specialization within ELC, you will have to be motivated and willing to study hard and intensively – but you will get a lot in return . After the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, learning the Russian language, culture and politics has become a much more serious matter. Taking these courses will provide you with insights into the developments that may have contributed to the war as well as perspectives on current social processes. The combination of a variety of knowledge domains and language proficiency will enable you to explore multiple aspects of Russia and other post-Soviet societies.

By studying the key linguistic, political, cultural and social topics of contemporary Europe, you will learn to understand the mutual relationship, differences and similarities among national and regional cultures. In doing so, you will learn to understand future challenges and inform advanced decision-making in cultural, political and educational institutions.

Does Russian even belong to European Languages and Cultures? Russian is considered part of the Slavic language group, which includes languages such as Polish, Czech, and Serbian. It is spoken by more than 250 million people worldwide, making it the eighth most spoken language in the world and one of the six official UN languages. Similar to other large European empires, Russia has played an important role in global history, often having a major impact on the people and territories that it subjugated. By studying the Russian language and culture, we can also better understand the ways in which imperialism and colonialism have shaped Russian identity and society. Additionally, by learning the Russian language, we can engage in critical analysis and dialogue, and work towards a deeper understanding of the complex legacies of the Russian empire in local and global contexts.

Why Russian?

If you are interested in Russian history, politics and culture, the Russian specialization within European Languages and Cultures may be just the thing for you. It will teach you how to place the Russian language, culture, literature and politics in a wider context.

The Russian proficiency course units start in the first semester of your first year and this is where the hard work begins. You will have to study vocabulary, practice pronunciation, learn to use six grammatical cases and get used to a new system of verbs. This is not going to be easy, but your efforts will be rewarded by a growing understanding of the language and culture. During the first two years you will develop your language skills, learn to communicate in the target language and work with authentic materials.

The programme has a flexible structure. From your second year onward, you will specialise in one of the profiles:

• European Language and Society
• European Culture and Literature
• European Politics and Society