CIEE Russian Language Program in St. Petersburg, Russia

  Russia

• St. Petersburg: 
St. Petersburg

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 16 weeks: late Aug-mid-Dec; Spring 16 weeks: mid-Jan-mid-May; Academic Year 32 weeks: late Aug-mid-May

Description: The goal of the Russian Language program is to offer intermediate and advanced students of Russian a well-balanced program of language study in an immersion setting. This is achieved by combining intensive language courses with an enriching cultural program of lectures and local excursions in and around one of the world's most culturally and historically interesting cities. Students are encouraged to further immerse themselves in Russian cultural and social life by living with a Russian host family and by participating in various volunteer activities.

Academic Program
2009 marks the 42nd anniversary of the CIEE Study Center in St. Petersburg. CIEE began its close relationship with St. Petersburg State University when the Summer Russian Language Program began there in 1967. The CIEE semester Russian Language program was established in 1970, and the Russian Area Studies program (RAS) in 2000.

The Russian Language program is offered in both the fall and spring semesters and includes 14 weeks of language study at St. Petersburg State University and field trips to other Russian cities. The curriculum for this program includes required courses in grammar, phonetics, and conversation. In addition, students choose two elective courses. Academic year students in the spring semester may take advanced sections of grammar and conversation, translation, and one course in analytical readings, if they have the necessary Russian language ability.

Oral Proficiency Interviews - a digitally recorded oral interview is conducted with each student at the beginning and end of each semester. The interviews are conducted by the Resident Director and follow American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language (ACTFL) guidelines. These interviews provide students with easily accessible language snapshots of their pre and post-program language proficiency.

Academic Culture
Students attend classes five days a week, with one afternoon reserved for cultural excursions and one afternoon for choral rehearsal or film viewing each week. Classes are 90 minutes in length. Grammar and conversation courses meet three times a week; phonetics and the two elective courses meet twice each week.

All courses are taught in Russian. Students are grouped by language level based on the results of an on-site placement test conducted at the beginning of the program. Class size ranges from 7 to 10 students for core language and analytical reading courses, with larger groups of 10-15 for literature and area studies lectures. Students are expected to be prepared for class. Much of the material used is written by the teachers themselves, and exercises are often taken directly from the teacher's texts.

Highlights:

• Intensive Russian language program; the longest running study abroad program in Russia
  
• Participate in optional volunteer projects organized through a well-developed network of contacts that facilitate integration into Russian society
  
• Beautiful St. Petersburg, three hundred years of history in one city
  
• Cultural program including local excursions and field trips

The program offers three overnight field trips each semester: Moscow, Novgorod, and Tallinn, Estonia (fall semester) or the Pskov region (spring semester). These trips include excursions to places of educational, cultural, and historic significance, while still allowing some time for students to explore the sites on their own. The trips are coordinated with the academic program, through preparation in class prior to the trip and through discussions of experiences and impressions upon return to St. Petersburg. During the field trips, students usually stay in hotels, with two students to a room. Most meals are taken at hotels or restaurants. For the Moscow and Tallinn field trips, students are provided a stipend to help cover the cost of meals. There is also an Independent Russian Travel Week each semester. Students are encouraged to visit areas outside of St. Petersburg on their own. Students travel independently and the cost of this travel is not included in the program fee. In past semesters students have camped on Lake Baikal, visited Vladivostok, taken in the sites of the Tatar Republic, and visited the shores of the Black Sea.

Volunteering
CIEE students are offered the opportunity to conduct English conversation lessons at St. Petersburg State University. In addition, students may take advantage of a range of volunteer projects. Past students have volunteered at after-school programs for children, local art galleries, and private libraries. CIEE staff organize an information fair each semester to introduce students to available opportunities with local businesses, agencies, and schools.

Immersion
Peer Language Tutors
CIEE students are paired with local students for a variety of language and cultural exchange activities. These students help provide CIEE participants with additional language support and a first-hand look at the lifestyle of their Russian peers.

Target Language Meals
Students are invited to participate in regularly scheduled lunch discussions with CIEE staff, language faculty, and local students. CIEE participants attending these optional meals are required to speak only Russian with their teachers and peers.

Cultural Reimbursement Program
As a means of encouraging students to enrich their study abroad experience in St Petersburg, CIEE offers a Cultural Reimbursement Program, allowing students to be reimbursed for their participation in local cultural activities such as movie screenings, theater performances, concerts, and visits to local museums and places of historic interest.

Film and Music
CIEE students have the opportunity to screen recent Russian films throughout the semester. In addition, they can choose to participate in the CIEE Choir once a week. The CIEE Choir has become a tradition in recent years, and the group has been invited to perform on national radio in past semesters.

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing

Experience Required: yes

* Overall GPA 2.75
* 4 semesters of college-level Russian or equivalent
* Recommended Oral Proficiency Interview score of Intermediate Low

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Russia Independently

Scholarships are Available. - We have several scholarships that students can apply for. Contact CIEE for details.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Transcript
• Written Application

CIEE's Mission Statement: Since 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." Our services to young people studying, working, teaching, and traveling abroad are more important than ever. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that guide this mission statement.

Year Founded: 1947