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RUTHENIA 06
“Language as Environment” Ruthenia presents “A Russian August”, a full immersion course in the Russian language (intermediate and advanced levels) for all those interested in Russian culture. Instruction will be provided by the finest teachers of the Department of Russian Literature at Tartu University, as well as by language professionals from Denmark, Finland, Russia, and Ukraine. It is no accident that the Summer School will take place in Estonia. For centuries, Estonia has been home to a unique Russian subculture, at once independent from and closely tied to the central capitals. A sizeable Russian community continues to exist in Estonia to this day, and as a result the local Estonian population is itself very proficient in Russian. Furthermore, Estonia has recently become a member of the European Union, thus providing the unique opportunity of Russian cultural and linguistic immersion within EU territory. Classes will be held in Tartu and in the lakeside resort town, Sulbi (at the Roosu recreational center http://www.marguse.ee/?page=inx&lang=eng), 50 km from Tartu. Ruthenia-06 offers full cultural and linguistic immersion. The Summer School operates on a Russian-only basis: for the duration of the course all the world's languages other than Russian cease to exist. Students communicate exclusively in Russian not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well, with their teachers and among themselves. The Summer School's instructors actively participate in extracurricular and leisure activities, creating a convivial atmosphere in which entertainment and Russian language study go hand in hand. All instructors at the Summer School are experienced working with foreign students. Our classes will give students a rare opportunity both to improve significantly their language abilities, as well as to become familiar with the local academic traditions of Tartu. Curriculum In-class curriculum includes 10 lectures (45 min.) and 3x10 practical lessons (45 min.). Lectures and practical lessons are geared not only toward improving students’ Russian language skills, but also toward functional mastery of various communicative strategies. Lessons are organized into thematic blocks, which are explored in terms of everyday communicative goals, historical background (through readings of literary and historical texts), and in relation to contemporary mass media (newspapers, the internet). Ruthenia-06 offers students a two-part curriculum, consisting of daily, in-class work and evening events, which include meetings with writers, musicians, and politicians, viewing and discussion of films, and experiencing Russian traditions and daily life (including the linguistic aspects of these traditions). Topics for discussion during in-class work range across the most current and vital in contemporary Russian culture: politics, sports, identity issues, psychological and emotional experience (love, sex, etc.), and the cultural landscape of Russian life (the communal apartment, the country house or dacha, leisure activities, etc). General lectures (in groups of no more than 15 students) combine cultural aspects of a topic (relying on predominantly written sources) with coverage of key lexical items. Subsequent practical lessons (groups of 5 students) focus on various means of exploring the topic in different cultural situations, employing different linguistic registers and styles (literary, journalistic, conversational, etc). Evening events are organized to give students an opportunity to put their new knowledge into practice (for example, a picnic attended by both students and teachers will follow a lecture on traditional Russian leisure activities). School Schedule
Ruthenia-06 offers students the following package of services:
Price: 700 EUR. Application deadline 1 May 2006. Organizers: Ilon Fraiman
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