Slavic Dept. Considers New Course in Russian

The Slavic Department may offer a non-intensive course in beginning Russian next year, according to Albert B. Lord '34, chairman of the Slavic Department. Lord said that such a course is being considered in response to interest expressed "especially by students in Math and the sciences" who would like to read Russian scientific publications.

At present, beginners in Russian must take Slavic Aab, a double course meeting eight times a week, which gives the equivalent of a year of Russian in one semester. The proposed course, which would be offered as an alternative to Aab would give "slightly more" than the latter in one year.

"We have often been asked for a course in scientific Russian," Horace G. Lunt 2d '41, associate professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, stated. "But there would be no essential difference until after a year's study."

Gives "Basic Tools"

Dr. Irina B.M. Lynch, instructor in Slavic Languages and Literatures, said that one year's study of Russian would give a student the basic tools of grammar. "He could read scientific material if he was familiar with the subject matter," she declared, "but he would not be prepared for literary reading."

She said she would advise the non-concentrator to take the proposed year course in Russian in preference to an intensive term of Slavic Aab.

Jabez C. Street, chairman of the Physics Department, further advised Physics students to learn Russian if possible. He said that about 20 per cent of the graduate students do already.