WHICH EXAM BOARD?​

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Edexcel

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Specification Code: 1RU0

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WHY STUDY RUSSIAN?​

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You will stand out from the crowd since Russian is offered by only a small number of schools in the UK. Russian language skills are highly sought after by UK employers and could lead to a career in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, business, law or the security services. Russia is a key player on the international stage and Russian is spoken by 300 million people around the world. You will enjoy the opportunity to learn more about Russia’s fascinating history and captivating culture with its rich traditions in the arts, literature, music and ballet.

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1. It is more than learning a foreign language

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By learning a foreign language, you give yourself the chance to see the world in a different way. If you enjoy meeting and talking to people from other countries, finding out about their cultures and learning how their language works, then studying the GCSE Russian is an excellent choice for you! You will have the chance to learn more about countries where the language is spoken, the people who speak it and gain an insight into the fascinating culture.

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2. It is a really relevant subject

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Russia’s presence in the world continues to grow and nearly every day there is a global news item related to Russia. GCSE Russian helps you explore a wide range of topics, from celebrations and festivals, to international campaigns and events. You will learn about Russian culture through a range of interesting topics which will add to your understanding of the language and culture. This will help you to understand the context of news relating to Russia.

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3. You have the option to study abroad

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Many universities offer the opportunity to study abroad. This allows students to become immersed in a different culture and assists with the understanding of their studies.

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4. There are many job opportunities

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Potential future careers for students studying Russian include academia, arts and culture, broadcasting and journalism, business and management, charity and development, defence, diplomacy and politics, education, finance and banking, law, the oil and gas industries and translation and interpreting.

You will generally increase your employability as there is a demand for people who can speak more than one language. By studying this course, you will learn many skills such as the ability to communicate clearly, public speaking and using problem solving strategies. These skills are required by many careers.

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Studying Russian also gives you greater opportunities to work and/or study abroad, or work for companies in the UK with international links.

What do I need to know, or be able to do, before taking this course?

If you have studied Russian before, you are well prepared to take GCSE course, however it may also be possible to take the course if you have not previously studied Russian.

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Prior to the commencement of classes students will take a diagnostic exam to determine their level of Russian.

If you have studied Russian before, you already know a lot of the vocabulary and grammar you will need for GCSE: you will know how to talk about yourself, your friends and family, your hobbies, where you live, school, holidays, food and drink. You will build on this knowledge during the GCSE course, and move on to new topics.

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What subjects combine well with Russian?

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There are no subjects that conflict with Russian, and it can be said that all subjects would actually benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired in studying Russian.

Studying a language makes it easier to learn other languages so studying another Modern Language can combine well.

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What University courses can Russian lead to?

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If you’ve enjoyed learning Russian then History, Politics, Philosophy, English Literature are great A-Levels to follow with.

The disciplines of History, Literature, Languages, PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) have significant ties.

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Subject components & assessment:

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Themes and topics:

Paper 1: Listening and understanding in Russian (25%)

Paper 2: Speaking in Russian (25%)

Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Russian (25%)

Paper 4: Writing in Russian (25%)

5 Themes:

• Identity and culture

• Local area, holiday, travel,

• School

• Future aspirations, study and work

• International and global dimensions