COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: RUSSIAN (HYBRID)
Location: Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania & Riga, Latvia
Country: Latvia
Language: Russian
School: Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Program Contacts:
Robert Heckrote, Program Coordinator
rheckrote@commonwealthu.edu, 570-389-4696

Dr. Mykola Polyuha, Faculty Leader
mpolyuha@commonwealthu.edu, 570-389-4676

Dates of Program: May 22, 2023 - July 16, 2023
Dates abroad: June 25, 2023 - July 16, 2023

Program Type: Summer Combined Domestic and Study Abroad

Textbook:
Year 1 – (1) Robin, Richard et al.  Голосa (Golosa): A Basic Course in Russian, Book One, Books a la Carte Edition (5th Edition) - ISBN-13: 9780205048380 Year 2 – (1) Robin, Richard et al.  Голосa (Golosa): A Basic Course in Russian, Book One, Books a la Carte Edition (5th Edition) - ISBN-13: 9780205048380 (2) Kagan, Olga and Miller, Frank. B пути (V Puti): Russian Grammar in Context, (2nd Edition) - ISBN-13: 978-0130282804   PROGRAM DETAILS

The 12 credit “dusk-to-dawn” hybrid language program provides cadets and midshipmen with Russian language and culture training at beginner and intermediate levels. Any year ROTC student is eligible for participation. Students begin this program in Bloomsburg, PA at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania for five weeks and, then, travel to Riga, Latvia for additional three weeks. The program includes a rigorous academic component, rich cultural immersion, and language skills assessment upon program completion. Students have an opportunity to not only take general Russian language classes, but also take a week-long specialized course in either Russian for Military, Russian for Business, or Russian for Politics modules. Throughout the program in the classroom, in informal settings, and during weekend excursions, students are strongly encouraged to use the Russian language. Students have language proficient tutors and support staff throughout the domestic portion of the program, and, during the study abroad portion, they will be accompanied by and experienced faculty director who will assist them in language and cultural immersion.

Course Content:
The program has the following main goals: (1) develop students’ proficiency in Russian  to a minimum of the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Level 1 (equivalent to the Intermediate level on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale);  (2) familiarize students with foundations of Russian culture; (3) allow students to learn certain topics (e.g., “Russian for Politics,” “Russian for Military,” or “Business Russian”) more in depth; (4) provide linguistic foundation for progression to advanced level Russian courses.

The introductory course will cover the basics of the Russian grammar (all the cases, number, tenses, aspects, conjugations). Students will be able to perform the following communication skills:

Introducing Oneself, Family, and Friends;
Naming Common Objects, Clothing, and Basic Colors;
Talking about Languages and Discussing Ethnic and National Backgrounds;
Talking about University Studies;
Talking about Daily Activities and Schedules;
Talking about Homes, Rooms, and Furnishings;
Talking about People (Names, Ages, Professions, Where They Were Born, and Where They Grew Up);
Making Simple Purchases;
Talking about Food;
Talking More about Oneself and One’s Family
Describing the Weather;
Managing Telephone Conversations;
Describing One’s City;
Making Hotel and Travel Arrangements;
Talking about Movies and Television

The intermediate course will cover more advanced concepts of the Russian grammar (e.g., imperative, subjunctive mood). Students will be able to perform the following communication skills:

Describing the Weather;
Managing Telephone Conversations;
Describing One’s City;
Making Hotel and Travel Arrangements;
Talking about Movies and Television;
Talking about Books, Authors, and Genres;
Describing How People Spend Free Time: Hobbies, Sports, Music;
Talking about Computers and the Internet;
Talking about One’s Health;
Talking about Holidays;
Describing One’s Schedule;
Describing People: Physical Appearance and Traits;
Talking about Geography;
Talking about Nature.

Housing:
Domestic Portion - university student residence;

Overseas Portion - studio apartments. Each of the apartments has a comfortable bed, modern furniture, private bathroom with shower and a kitchenette – a small cooking area with refrigerator, sink and a microwave.

All Project GO programs provide funding for:
Tuition/fees
Room and Board
Travel to/from study location
Books
Insurance
Visa (if applicable)

The following costs will not be included in Project GO Funding:
personal spending money, personal travel, costs for obtaining a passport, medication, and expenses for dependents.

Please Note: Project GO participants planning to travel abroad MUST have a valid U.S. passport in their possession no later than 90 days before anticipated travel date. Many destinations require student visas, which take additional processing time. For further information, visit our FAQs.

Additional Details: Prerequisites:
Year 1: None
Year 2: Basic Russian language proficiency (two semesters of college-level Russian language)

Time Frame:
Domestic Component (8 credits): May 22 - June 23
Overseas Component (4 credits): June 26 - July 16

Overseas Component:
Having completed five weeks of studies at Bloomsburg University, participants continue their studies for three additional weeks in the Russian Language Academy BORN in Riga, Latvia (https://russian-academy.com/). For the entire duration of their study abroad, students are accompanied by an experienced faculty member fluent in Russian and knowledgeable of the Baltic countries.

While abroad, participants are enrolled in a two-weeks intensive Russian language course followed by one-week specialized Russian course (with the following options: “Russian for Politics,” “Russian for Military,” or “Business Russian”). 

About the Location:
Latvia is situated in the north of Europe with easy access to Scandinavia, the UK, other places in Europe, and the rest of the world. Almost half of Latvia’s population consists of native Russian speakers and most of the population speaks Russian fluently. We are certain that Latvia offers the best way to learn Russian by also providing an opportunity to practice Russian outside the school. The history of Russians in Latvia reaches back a thousand years. It started when Russian merchants came there for an access point to the Baltic Sea, and afterward gained control over Latvia. In 1941, Latvia became a part of the Soviet Union, where Russian was the only official language. In spite of the fact that Latvia gained its independence in 1991 and Latvian became the official language, Russian is still very important in everyday communication. This makes Latvia a great place for foreign students to practice their Russian language.