• Frequently Asked Questions about enrolment
• Frequently Asked Questions about the units RSN 150/RSN 155, RSN 250/RSN 255, RSN 350/RSN 355 and RSN 360/RSN 365
• Frequently Asked Questions about units RSN 105, RSN 325 and RSN 305

 

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Frequently Asked Questions about Enrolment

• RSN 150 Introductory Russian I is designed for speakers of English who have no prior knowledge of Russian, or Russian background speakers who do not have literacy skills. It is offered only in Semester 1.

• No. RSN 150 Introductory Russian I is offered only in Semester 1.

• If you studied Russian for the HSC or you have previous knowledge of the language, you should enrol in a 200-level course (RSN 250 or RSN 255) or 300-level course (RSN 350 or RSN 355).

• RSN 155 follows RSN 150 and is designed for students who have either completed RSN 150 or its equivalent elsewhere. If you want to enrol into RSN 155, you need to know the following grammar roles: past, present and future tenses of verbs and prepositional case of nouns, adjectives and ordinal numerals.

• You need 24 credit points to complete the Diploma in Russian. It may take two and a half or three years depending on the number of units you can do during one semester.
• Candidates for the Diploma may transfer to the Bachelor of Arts prior to satisfying the requirements for the Diploma after they have obtained 12 credit points with a GPA of 2.0.
• For more information about the Diploma, please look at http://www.mq.edu.au/future_students/undergraduate/alternative_access/language_qualifications/

• For information about the cost of the programs, please look at http://www.mq.edu.au/future_students/undergraduate/fees_and_costs/
• The programs are Commonwealth Supported where HECS-HELP is available for those who meet the Citizenship requirements.

• If you have questions that require a lot of typing, please contact us on (02)9850 7016 or email your phone number to marika.kalyuga@mq.edu.au.
• We are very happy to answer your questions.

• For information about Macquarie University's new bonus point scheme, please look at http://www.mq.edu.au/future_students/undergraduate/bonus_points/academic_advantage/

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Units
RSN 150/RSN 155, RSN 250/RSN 255, RSN 350/RSN 355 and RSN 360/RSN 365

• Classes begin in week 1 of the teaching period you are enrolled in. For example, week 1 in semester 1 2009 began on 23 February.
• Classes run on the following days:
  
  

  Semester 1
  RSN 150	Tuesday, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
  RSN 250	Tuesday, from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
  RSN 350	Thursday, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
  RSN 360	Thursday, from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.
  Semester 2
  RSN 155	Tuesday, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
  RSN 255	Tuesday, from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
  RSN 355	Thursday, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
  RSN 365	Thursday, from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.

• Once you have enrolled online you can check your timetable and details about class locations at http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.

• In the first lecture of your unit you will receive a Study Guide. This document will outline all the requirements of the unit.
• All study materials are available for students enrolled in the unit at http://learn.mq.edu.au/ from the beginning of the semester until the end of it. Students are asked to print these materials. Internal students should bring printed lecture notes and notes for tutorials to their classes. 
• Links to iLectures can also be found within the online unit.

• There are no required textbooks for these courses. Recommended book:  Levine J. S. Schaum's Outline of Russian Grammar, McGraw-Hill, 1999.

• Assessment is by written examination, an oral test, and through assignments.
• The following is a list of assessment tasks, including percentage weighting: 
  
  

  Form of Assessment	% Weighting
  6 assignments	25%
  oral test	10%
  final written examination	65%

• Students doing RSN 150 and RSN 155 are expected to handwrite their assignments since they are learning how to write in Russian. All other students can type them.

• Internal students have to hand in their assignments to their tutor.
• External students should send all their assignments to the Centre for Open Education.
• Students living overseas can email their assignments.

• Mrs Tatiana Oitzinger marks your assignments for the courses RSN 150/RSN 155 and RSN 250/RSN 255 (email: tatiana.oitzinger@mq.edu.au).
• Mrs Tatiana Rivchin marks your assignments for the courses RSN 350/RSN 355 and RSN 360/RSN 365 (email: tatiana.ryvchin@mq.edu.au).

• If you are an internal student, please contact your tutor.
• If you are an external student, please contact your tutor or the Centre for Open Education. Your assignments are sent back to you by the Centre for Open Education after being marked by a tutor.

• Students have to prepare a four-minute talk on a topic of their choice. 

• Internal students will have their oral test after the last class in week 13. 
• External students should send their talk on a tape or CD to the Centre for Open Education by week 13. Alternatively, students can email the recording of their oral test to their tutor as an attachment.

• The purpose of the written examination is to check students' knowledge of all aspects of grammar and vocabulary that they learn throughout the semester.
• The format of the written examination is identical to that of assignment 6 and lecture notes for week 13. The written examination has three sections: grammar, translation (from English into Russian and from Russian into English) and writing compositions and dialogues.

• You cannot see copies of the previous year's examinations. Please see the answer to the previous question about the format of the written examination.

• Two and a half hours plus ten minutes reading time.

• No, they are not.

• Your lecturer and your tutor.

• Students enrolled in units that require them to sit for compulsory examinations (to be held during business hours) during the official examination period must not arrange to go away before the end of the exam period.  Exams could be scheduled for Saturdays during that period.  Do not expect that alternative examination arrangements can be made for you.  The only exceptions to this are:
  • members of the armed forces who must go away on duty;
  • students representing Australia or the University in a national or international sporting or cultural event;
  • students proceeding to a period of study in a foreign country associated with their Macquarie program of study.

• The University has a set of guidelines for the distribution of grades across the range, from Fail to High Distinction.
  
  

  HD	High Distinction - for work of outstanding quality. This may be demonstrated in areas such as criticism, logical argument, interpretation of materials or use of methodology. This grade may also be awarded to recognise a high order of originality or creativity in student performance.
  D	Distinction - for work of superior quality in the same areas of performance as above. This grade may also be awarded to recognise particular originality or creativity in student performance.
  Cr	Credit - for work of predominantly good quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of content together with efficient organisation, selectivity and use of techniques.
  P	Pass - a clear pass and satisfactory achievement of unit objectives.
  PC	Conceded Pass - a pass which is marginal.
  F	Fail - a candidate has failed to complete a unit satisfactorily.

• Exam results will be published on eStudent.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Units RSN 105,
RSN 325 and RSN 305

• To enrol, you will need to complete an Application for Special Approval (Waiver). This can be collected from the Student Enquiry Service on Level 1 (W6A). A Waiver Form is also available online at http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/USSWaiver.pdf.    
• Once this has been completed, submit it to the Head of Russian Studies at W6A 203a fax number (02)9850 7054.
• Please note that obtaining a waiver does not mean that you are enrolled in the unit.  Once the waiver is signed and loaded on to your student record, it is your responsibility to enrol in the unit via eStudent.
  

• You can use eStudent to check if the waiver you submitted has been approved and entered into the system. If you are eligible to enrol, click on the My Enrolment menu. You can then select 'Check if Waivers granted' to display all the waivers that have been approved and entered.
• NOTE: There may be a time delay between when waivers are approved and when they are entered into the system.
• Students who do not have access to the My Enrolment menu should check with the Department to determine if the waiver has been approved.

• Lectures will run on the following days:
  
  

  Semester 1
  RSN 105	Wednesday, 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
  RSN 325	Wednesday, 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
  Semester 2
  RSN 305	Wednesday, 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

• You can check your timetable and details about class locations at http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.

• All the subject specific information you need should be available from the online teaching facility at http://learn.mq.edu.au/. You can also read about studying via distance on the Centre for Open Education website.

• Please contact the Centre for Open Education. The responsibilities of the Centre include the organisation and distribution of the various forms of teaching materials (including CD Rom) to students on a weekly basis. Links to iLectures can also be found within the online unit.

• In the first lecture of your unit you will receive a Study Guide. This document will outline all the requirements of the unit.
• All study materials for lectures and tutorials, as well as assignments, are available for students enrolled in the unit at http://learn.mq.edu.au/ from the beginning of the semester until the end of it. Students are asked to print these materials. Internal students should bring printed lecture notes and notes for tutorials to their classes. 
• Links to iLectures can also be found within the online unit.

• There are no required textbooks for RSN 105 and RSN 325.
• The required textbook for RSN 305 is B. Engel, Women in Russia, 1700-2000 Cambridge University Press, 2004. The textbook is available through the Co-op Bookshop at Macquarie University.

• Assessment is by quizzes and essays.
• The following is a list of assessment tasks, including percentage weighting: 
  
  

  Form of Assessment	% Weighting
  Quiz 1	20%
  Quiz 2	20%
  Essay 1 (1000 words)	25%
  Final essay (1500 words)	35%

• Internal students have to hand in their quizzes to their tutor.
• External students should send all quizzes to the Centre for Open Education or email them to their tutor.
• All students should submit two copies of their essays: an electronic copy (through TURNITIN) and a hard copy. A hard copy should be submitted to your tutor or to the Centre for Open Education. Please state on the cover sheet that the essay is identical to the essay which you have submitted to TURNITIN. Please find information about your class number and your password at http://learn.mq.edu.au/.

• If students cannot submit their essays/assignments by the due date because of illness or other personal difficulties, they are entitled to ask for an extension. The extension means that marks will not be deducted for lateness. In order to receive an extension, students may be requested to provide evidence of illness or personal difficulties in the form of a medical certificate or supporting letter from a counsellor. In such cases, students can get an extension for the period mentioned in the certificate or supporting letter.
• All essays/assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted in advance by the lecturer in charge of the course or by a tutor, will have 3% of the total marks allocated for that piece of work deducted for each working day that the work remains outstanding. In the case of external students, either the date stamped on the assignment folder by the Centre for Open Education or the date posted is considered as the date received. No essays/assignments will be accepted after the start of the examination session.

• Mrs Tatiana Oitzinger marks your assignments for the courses RSN 105 and RSN 305 (email: tatiana.oitzinger@mq.edu.au).
• Mrs Tatiana Rivchin marks your assignments for the courses RSN 105, RSN 305 and RSN 325 (email: tatiana.ryvchin@mq.edu.au).

• If you are an internal student, please contact your tutor.
• If you are an external student, please contact your tutor or the Centre for Open Education. Your assignments are sent back to you by the Centre for Open Education after being marked by a tutor.

• The University has a set of guidelines for the distribution of grades across the range, from Fail to High Distinction.
  
  

  HD	High Distinction - for work of outstanding quality. This may be demonstrated in areas such as criticism, logical argument, interpretation of materials or use of methodology. This grade may also be awarded to recognise a high order of originality or creativity in student performance.
  D	Distinction - for work of superior quality in the same areas of performance as above. This grade may also be awarded to recognise particular originality or creativity in student performance.
  Cr	Credit - for work of predominantly good quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of content together with efficient organisation, selectivity and use of techniques.
  P	Pass - a clear pass and satisfactory achievement of unit objectives.
  PC	Conceded Pass - a pass which is marginal.
  F	Fail - a candidate has failed to complete a unit satisfactorily.

• Exam results will be published on eStudent.

• Yes, you can.

• On-campus sessions are provided for external students of RSN 150/RSN 155 and RSN 250/RSN 255 who live in the Sydney metropolitan area. They are held on Saturdays once a semester. This meeting gives students an opportunity to revise material covered in the course and to clear up any difficulties that they may have.
• On-campus sessions are not compulsory. For students planning on attending an on-campus session, please confirm your attendance to your lecturer (marika.kalyuga@mq.edu.au) one week before it is due. For information about the time and place of the on-campus session, please see your Study Guide.

 

Image panel (from left): Anton Chekhov (painting by Osip Braz, 1898). Russian birch Trees. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow. The house in Taganrog, Russia, where Chekhov was born (Source: Taganrog Local Government, http://www.taganrogcity.com. Author: Alexandre Mirgorodskiy).