Beginning Russian

I loved taking Russian 0101 with Professor Portice and Professor Plagmann. The course is fast paced and requires you to keep up with your homework, but it is amazing when you realize how much of the language you learned in such a short time. Lectures were clear and the professors made efforts to make class more engaging with group discussions and conversation prompts. Both professors were accommodating when I missed class due to illness and helped me catch up when I was feeling better. Overall I loved this class and highly recommend taking it if you are considering studying Russian!

I loved taking Russian 0101 with Professor Portice and Professor Plagmann. The course is fast paced and requires you to keep up with your homework, but it is amazing when you realize how much of the language you learned in such a short time. Lectures were clear and the professors made efforts to make class more engaging with group di …Read more

Depending on who you take this course with, you may like it or be very bothered by it. Professor Portice is extremely kind and understanding when it comes to issues with homework and attendance, and creates a relaxed environment during lectures. Professor Plagmann can be very uncompromising about homework and makes lectures feel boring yet stressful. Homework and exams are the primary things you need to worry about in this class, as well as attendance (only about 3 absences allowed, otherwise it starts to harm your attendance, which is 30% of your grade).

Depending on who you take this course with, you may like it or be very bothered by it. Professor Portice is extremely kind and understanding when it comes to issues with homework and attendance, and creates a relaxed environment during lectures. Professor Plagmann can be very uncompromising about homework and makes lectures feel bor …Read more

Professor Portice is extremely kind, understanding, and I feel that she genuinely wants me and my fellow students to learn and do well in the language. On the other hand, Professor Plagmann can be mean, demeaning, and often makes students feel bad for making mistakes or being unclear on certain terminology. This isn't the best feeling when you're starting out a new language and can be quite discouraging.

Professor Portice is extremely kind, understanding, and I feel that she genuinely wants me and my fellow students to learn and do well in the language. On the other hand, Professor Plagmann can be mean, demeaning, and often makes students feel bad for making mistakes or being unclear on certain terminology. This isn't the best feelin …Read more

Intensive but very interesting. You will not get bored in this language course, but you really need a lot of reviewing after the class. We have exam and quiz every week, and it takes at least 2 hours to complete the homework everyday.

The Russian department is great! Professor Portice does a great job explaining concepts and leading conversations/activities to support learning. Homework is occasionally tedious just because it's everyday, but definitely has value and doesn't typically take up too much time. Bi-weekly unit tests, but I almost always feel prepared with little outside studying.

Russian is a hard course, and this professor does a great job being flexible with first time learners while being fair towards grading and exams. It's to a level that forces you to work to learn but it's rewarding too.

Professor Portice is funny, engaging, knowledgable, and helpful. Portice explains some tricky concepts slowly and well, and he gives lots of examples. In class, our group work gives us the opportunity to practice the material we are learning. I loved him and he knows a lot about Russian linguistics and culture.

I love the Russian Department! Sasha is the most accommodating, and her teaching style is so clear and makes so much sense. Yes, Russian is hard, but if you are interested in it at all it is so worth it to study, and the department and all of the professors I have had are the best.

This course is taught by Timothy and Kevin. There is homework every day and unit tests once or twice a month but instructors are super accommodating. Professors are both very optimistic and joke around in class. Would 100% take again!

The workload can pile up if you don't stay on top of it. But that's to be expected when learning a new language. The key is to stay organized, review consistently, and seek help when needed. The professor is always available for clarification or extra guidance, which greatly enhanced my learning experience.

I really love Kevin, even if I was intimidated by him at first. I thought that the first few weeks of class were the most difficult (wrapping my head around cases was particularly challenging), but it got easier! The year also became more enjoyable as I talked to Kevin more and got to know him better. A really interesting person with whom I'm grateful to have taken a class.

This class was very rewarding. Walker is an incredibly engaging and knowledgable professor. Expect to spend a significant amount of time on homework and studying each week. You will also have at least a quiz or test each week.

It has lots of homework (basically at least 1 hour every day), 6 tests and multiple quizzes a semester, but easy tests and easy grading. The professors are super nice. Russian is hard but this course is easy.

Very difficult at first, but teacher is very accommodating and kind. Much work, practicing dialogue, doing homework, drill. Tests are hard at first but you will get the hang of it. Very very fast paced

I really enjoyed Russian 101! The class was very engaging and the professors do a fantastic job. You get out what you put in, however. The work piles up quickly if you don't stay on top, but that is expected with any language course here.