11 Sep 07

The future looks very hopeful for the first cohort of students to study Russian from scratch at Oxford. All four students have been awarded upper seconds and they are now considering the range of career options available to them.

Until the creation of the new course, the opportunity to take Russian at Oxford University was only available to the few hundred students who each year were able to study it at A-level. Making the course available to students with an A-level in any language has increased the numbers wanting to study it, with 18 students due to take the Russian for Beginners course in 2007-08.

The students can choose Russian together with another language they studied at A-level as part of a Modern Languages degree course. The first year of the course is devoted to intensive language training, which is designed to bring students up to A-level standard. Students then spend a second year in the ancient Russian city of Yaroslavl' where they can put their linguistic skills into practice.

In the final two years of their course this cohort of beginners is able to join the students who came to Oxford with good A-levels in the subject for the final stage of study. Both years are devoted to the study of Russian language and literature, with a wide range of options - from medieval texts in Old Church Slavonic, to classic Russian authors such as Pushkin and Tolstoy, through to 20th-century writers like Bulgakov.

Natalia Keys, Instructor in Russian, said: 'What inspires most students to study Russian initially is the complex beauty of the language itself and the depth and variety of its literature, qualities which lead on to a wider love for the people and its culture. Upon graduating students look to the many opportunities for continuing to work with the language by bringing their knowledge to bear in different fields where their skills are in great demand, for example the diplomatic service, journalism, business, charity organisations, and the world of art and music.'

Sara-Louise Cooper, who has just completed her first year and received the Andrew Colin Prize as the Best Candidate in Russian for Prelims, said, 'The course is fast paced and intensive. Although keeping on top of the workload can be challenging, it is rewarding to find yourself making progress so quickly. The course is ideal for someone who enjoys studying grammar and learning vocabulary. The literature classes are stimulating and enjoyable, giving you the opportunity to become more familiar with Russian literature, use your new language skills, and read some great poetry and prose in its original language.'

Commenting on his plans for the future, Dave Coghill, one of this year's finalists, said: 'I am returning to Russia in October. I will be teaching in the city of Nizhny Novgorod for an undetermined period of time - the length may be anything from nine months to a lifetime. It depends on what Russia throws at me in terms of fortune, brides and weather.'