Russian Evolution</h1> <article> <h1>Russian Evolution</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:45:15 +0000</p> <span>Russian Evolution</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-01T16:45:15-04:00" title="Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 16:45">Thu, 06/01/2023 - 16:45</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When 91ֱ�� native Emma Kim started taking Russian courses at 91ֱ�� College as a high school student, she never dreamed that she’d grow to love the language so much that she would eventually double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/curriculum">Russian and East European Studies</a> (REES) and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a>.</p> <p>“I enrolled in Russian classes out of pure curiosity, having no experience with the language, culture, or history,” says Kim, a second-year student. “It was very difficult at first, but I think the most important part of language learning is perseverance.”</p> <p>Her hard work has paid off: This summer, Kim will spend two months in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as a recipient of the prestigious <a href="https://clscholarship.org/">Critical Language Scholarship</a>. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this initiative supports and expands the number of Americans mastering foreign languages considered critical to national security and economic prosperity. </p> <p>In the Kyrgyz capital, Kim will live with a host family and immerse herself in local culture while taking formal Russian language classes at the American University of Central Asia. Her eight weeks of studies there will amount to the equivalent of one academic year of university-level coursework.<br> <br> This won’t be Kim’s first experience with an international language scholarship program. In 2020, the <a href="https://www.nsliforyouth.org/">National Security Language Institute for Youth</a> offered her the opportunity to study abroad in Moldova; when the pandemic forced the program to go digital, Kim spent her gap year studying virtually from her home. </p> <p>By 2022, Kim lived in Armenia as part of a two-month summer program. “I had no previous introduction to Caucasus culture, and being there profoundly impacted my experience with learning Russian,” she says. “Apart from pure language growth, I was finally able to form real, intimate relationships, and I became so much more aware of the post-Soviet space in general.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Russian lecturer Maia Solovieva, left, meets with Emma Kim.</figcaption> </figure> <p>At 91ֱ��, Kim has continued expanding her Russian skills—even serving as a teaching assistant for a 300-level class. Ever aware of her deepening connection to the language during a time of Russian diplomatic turmoil, she greatly values 91ֱ��’s approach to the <a href="/campus-resources/bulletins/russian-invasion-ukraine">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>.<br> <br> “Right now, teaching and learning Russian has a lot of political and imperial connotations, and as a student of the language, it's important to be aware of it and to acknowledge it,” she says. “91ֱ��’s Russian Department has done a good job of dealing with this dilemma. We do a lot of Russian cultural events together, but we’re also constantly discussing the current political situation.”<br> <br> Kim is especially grateful to Professor of Russian <a href="/tom-newlin">Tom Newlin</a>, who introduced her to the language, and Russian lecturer <a href="/maia-solovieva">Maia Vladimirovna Solovieva</a>, with whom she meets every week. “<a href="/nicholas-bujalski">Nicholas Bujalski</a>, who teaches Russian history, has also helped me to expand out of the strictly linguistic and curate my sense of the region,” she adds.</p> <p>Upon arriving in Bishkek, Kim will be paired with local language partners who will engage her in conversational Russian and introduce her to everything the city has to offer. </p> <p>“I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and completely immersing myself,” she says. “I’m excited to learn more about central Asia and Kyrgyz culture, but my ultimate goal is to get to know the city well, make local friends, and find a place for myself.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Curiosity led Emma Kim to study Eastern Europe at 91ֱ��. Now a state department scholarship has her curious about living and studying there.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-06-01T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/01/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kate Bigam Kaput</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/maia-solovieva" hreflang="und">Maia Solovieva</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pull-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Patrick Powers '21 Receives Fulbright to Uzbekistan</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:43:49 +0000</p> <span>Patrick Powers '21 Receives Fulbright to Uzbekistan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-10T12:43:49-04:00" title="Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 12:43">Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:43</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Patrick Powers ’21 will spend the summer improving his knowledge of Uzbek language before heading to Uzbekistan with a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. </p> <p>Powers majored in Russian/East European studies and comparative literature. He says he first became interested in Uzbekistan through Nikita Makarenko, an Uzbek journalist and musician who visited 91ֱ�� in 2018 as a visiting professor.</p> <p>“His course on news and mass media in the former Soviet Union shone a spotlight on post-Soviet Central Asia, a whole region of the world which I knew absolutely nothing about,” says Powers, who is from La Grande, Oregon. “I was totally engrossed by the opportunity to learn about this entirely different element of the former USSR which differed so immensely from the regions I was used to thinking about. I think Central Asia is an incredibly rich and important area to understand, since it is connected to and influenced by so many cultures and economic centers of power.” </p> <p>Powers says he is excited to learn more about contemporary Uzbek literature, the rapidly evolving role of religion (especially for the younger generation), and the Uzbek language. Although many Uzbeks speak Russian fluently, he says his goal is to become an advanced speaker of Uzbek rather than relying on his Russian language skills. This summer he will be working more intensely on his Uzbek with Professor Dilnoza Khalisova of the University of Wyoming. </p> <p>“I'm especially interested in how Uzbekistan's political and cultural identity, shaped by so many outside forces throughout history, is evolving yet again in the 21st century.”</p> <p>Powers particularly enjoyed his experience as a Russian teaching assistant at 91ֱ��, and he hopes that through teaching English he can facilitate cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding. “Ultimately I want to help open up the world for my students in the same way that studying foreign languages has opened up the world for me. I'm also looking forward to bringing my knowledge of Uzbekistan back to the United States, because I feel like most Americans know just as little about Uzbekistan and Central Asia as I did before a couple years ago.”</p> <p>Powers was enrolled in a study abroad program in St. Petersburg, Russia, in Spring 2020, but his time was cut short due to the pandemic. He wrote his honors thesis on Russian literature. In addition to language studies, Powers was a research assistant in the politics department. He also served on 91ֱ�� Student Senate for four years and worked as a resident assistant. </p> <p>Following his Fulbright year, Powers plans to apply for additional funding through the 91ֱ�� <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/ocreecas">OCREECAS</a> grant to stay in Central Asia or Russia in summer 2022 to do independent research. He is considering a master’s in Russian/Eurasian studies, law school, or potentially pursuing a PhD in Slavic studies. “In any case, I definitely plan to continue studying Russia and the former Soviet Union.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-06-10T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25316">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature" hreflang="und">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Patrick Powers '21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Patrick Powers</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Harald (Hank) Miller Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia</h1> <p>Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:12:24 +0000</p> <span>Harald (Hank) Miller Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-05-26T17:12:24-04:00" title="Friday, May 26, 2017 - 17:12">Fri, 05/26/2017 - 17:12</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Harald (Hank) Miller ‘17, a Russian major, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia. The graduating senior will begin his fellowship in September.</p> <p>After studying abroad in Saint Petersburg in 2016 and falling in love with the city, Miller knew he’d like to return. The assistantship not only provides him the opportunity to “sharpen his language skills” in a beloved country, but it also offers him a chance to push himself in a new direction. “The Fulbright represented an interesting challenge for me—teaching English.”</p> <p>While this will be Miller’s first experience teaching English as a second language, the graduating senior has experience with teaching the Russian language. He’s instructed both a winter term Russian 101 class and has worked as a Russian language tutor while in college.</p> <p>Miller expects that the fellowship will help him build his language skills while abroad. “I hope to emerge from this experience with a great command of Russian,” he says. “What I learn will be invaluable in my graduate school studies and subsequent career.”</p> <p>In addition to working as an assistant teacher while abroad, Miller hopes to encourage students to become further involved in language studies by spearheading language-based extracurricular activities. He also plans to bring to his students the sense of intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness that he feels is fostered at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Miller also intends to travel in his free time. While studying abroad in 2016, he visited Moscow and Novgorod, but he expects to see even more of the country. “I'd like to do as much traveling within Russia as time permits,” he says.</p> <p>Following the fellowship, Miller will apply to graduate programs in Russian literature. He’s currently writing his honors thesis on Vladimir Nabokov's <em>Pale Fire</em>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2017-05-12T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/12/2017 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hillary Hempstead</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Oliver Okun Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia</h1> <p>hhempste — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:12:24 +0000</p> <span>Oliver Okun Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-05-26T17:12:24-04:00" title="Friday, May 26, 2017 - 17:12">Fri, 05/26/2017 - 17:12</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Oliver Okun ‘17, a Russian major, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia.</p> <p>Okun’s interest in Russian culture was sparked after hearing stories about his great-grandfather, who emigrated from the country during World War I. Over the years, Okun’s curiosity only deepened and, while at 91ֱ�� College, he was moved to study facets of the country, including Russia’s language, history, literature, and poetry.</p> <p>During the summer of 2016, Okun lived abroad in St. Petersburg, where he was able to experience firsthand Russia’s culture. Through that experience, the country came alive. “Suddenly all the history and literature became real to me, and I fell in love with the culture all over again,” says Okun.</p> <p>To Okun, applying for a Fulbright assistantship to teach English in Russia seemed like a natural choice, and he is eager for the opportunity the fellowship presents. “I should be so lucky to live, study, and teach in a place where I am immersed in a culture that fascinates me,” says Okun.</p> <p>He’s particularly inspired by the role of the Fulbright Program, which focuses on fostering understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. “A lot of misunderstanding exists between the American and Russian people, and I believe I can do my small part to improve mutual understanding.”</p> <p>Through the fellowship, Okun hopes to learn more about what life is like for the Russian people. He also is looking forward to improving his teaching skills.</p> <p>The graduating senior will begin his fellowship in September in a yet-to-be-determined city.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2017-05-12T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/12/2017 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hillary Hempstead</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sarah Bogdanovitch '11 Receives Fulbright in Russia</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:20 +0000</p> <span>Sarah Bogdanovitch '11 Receives Fulbright in Russia</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:20-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sarah Bogdanovitch, a 2011 graduate, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia, where she will teach at the Eurasian Linguistics Institute in Irkutsk.</p> <p>Bogdanovitch says her love of Russian language and culture stems from her family’s heritage. At 91ֱ��, she double majored in Russian and comparative literature. She also speaks French and Spanish.</p> <p>After she graduated from 91ֱ��, Bogdanovitch started a small bakery, Community Loaves, in Jacksonville, Florida. She left in June 2015 to pursue opportunities in education and graduate studies, but the business is still thriving since her partner took over. She is currently living in Panajachel, Guatemala, where she teaches prekindergarten at an international school, and studies in the graduate program at Middlebury’s Kathryn Wasserman Davis Russian school in the summers.</p> <p>She will begin her Fulbright year in September, and she looks forward to gaining teaching experience at a university, improving her Russian skills, and “spending nine months in winter.”</p> <p>She spent the summer before her senior year in Yaroslavl, a few hours north of Moscow. She also had the opportunity to travel to St. Petersburg and further north to Karelia, “a beautiful region that is culturally mixed with Scandinavia.” “I have always wanted to spend more significant time in Russia outside of the capital region,” she says.</p> <p>After her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue additional graduate studies in language acquisition and communication science.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-06-02T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/02/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Students Show Mastery of Russian in Language Tournament</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:50 +0000</p> <span>Students Show Mastery of Russian in Language Tournament</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:50-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Faculty-in-Residence Maia Solovieva wasn’t surprised that two of her students took home honors in the <a href="https://slaviccenter.osu.edu/news/2016-undergraduate-russian-olympiada">2016 Undergraduate Russian Olympiada</a>, held February 27 at Kent State University. </p> <p>“They are brilliant, with exceptional intellectual ability,” says Solovieva, lecturer in Russian who served as a mentor for the 91ֱ�� students who participated in the spoken language competition. The 91ֱ�� group was among 50 competitors from Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, the College of Wooster, and Kent State University. Fourth-year Jennifer Bird placed first in the fourth-year level, and first-year Tori Ervin took third place in the first-year level.</p> <p>This is the second year 91ֱ�� has participated. In 2015, Drew Wise ’15 and William Watkins ’15 took home top prizes in the advanced category, and third-years Oliver Okun and Katherine Dye finished in first and third place respectively.</p> <p>Within each level, students competed in three rounds of competition: oral interview, poem recital, and topic presentation. Judges gave scores for pronunciation, fluency, and comprehension. Solovieva notes that judging focused on how students expressed their ideas and understood what was being asked as opposed to simply reciting the language. </p> <p>Bird, who is double majoring in Russian and mathematics, chose the poem “Acrobat” by Vladislav Khodasevich. “I was drawn to the gorgeous imagery of the poem. It’s about an acrobat who walks a tightrope while the crowd below anxiously watches. The poem is only roughly 10 lines, but it's filled with detail.” </p> <p>The interview portion prompted her to answer questions about herself and her opinions. “They ranged from more simple questions, such as why I chose my majors, to more complex questions, such as whether I thought it would be more important for a modern-day student to learn to write Russian by hand or by computer.”</p> <p>Ervin, a Technology in Music and Related Arts major enrolled in first-year Russian courses, recited “The Last Toast” by Anna Akhmatova. “At eight lines, it's a fairly short poem, but it gave me some nice opportunities to show off my pronunciation. The dark and bitter nature of the toast causes some interesting cognitive dissonance.”</p> <p>The presentation topics were picked at random from a stack of cards. Bird’s topic was “If I became president.” “I talked about my hypothetical plans for a couple of minutes, although I tried to give my answer without delving too deeply into my political beliefs.” In the first-year level, Ervin had the opportunity to choose from two randomly picked topics, which were “Your most difficult day" and "Your room/house." “I knew more of the vocabulary and had more content to talk about for the second prompt, so I chose that one.”</p> <p>Bird, who is from Canton, Michigan, is taking two courses taught in Russian: a seminar on Andrey Bely’s novel <em>Petersburg</em>, and a private reading course on contemporary Russian female writers. She is applying for a grant from 91ֱ��’s Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies (OCREECAS) to secure an internship in Russia in the fall. [OCREECAS]http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/rees/ocreecas.dot) internships provide real-world job experience in an immersive language setting. </p> <p>“Learning foreign languages is extremely valuable, both for personal reasons and for career development. Speaking personally, I can say that because I’ve studied Russian, I have become more confident speaking to others, more understanding of people’s attitudes and views, and more capable of adapting to new environments. My language skills have also allowed me to travel to St. Petersburg (where she spent the fall 2015 semester), make friends with people who don’t speak English, and have opened doors for possible careers.”</p> <p>Ervin, who is from Fishers, Indiana, says the Russian Olympiada boosted her confidence. “Learning new languages not only opens up the possibility of communicating with many more people, but also gives you new ways of looking at the world that English doesn't. Being in a space filled with other people who are passionate about speaking Russian reminded me why I study the language.” </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-03-14T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/14/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Tori Eriv, left, and Jennifer Bird won honors in the recent Undergraduate Russian Olympiada. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jennifer Manna</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Rapidfire Language Learning</h1> <p>Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:50 +0000</p> <span>Rapidfire Language Learning</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:50-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Students wander into class after the lunch break, shedding the layers of clothes necessary to brave Ohio winters. They settle into their seats and pull out books as the teacher greets them in Russian and together embark on the momentous task they have set themselves—cover an entire semester of a new language in one month.</p> <p>For more than 40 years, 91ֱ�� has offered intensive language winter terms, including Russian, Greek, Latin, and German. Associate Professor of Russian Tom Newlin praises the program for producing many students who have gone on to distinguished careers in the language. “There are numerous Russian winter-term alums working as professors of Russian, Russian history, and other Russia-related disciplines at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. There are others working in journalism, some in government at the State Department and Foreign Service, and others in the sciences who are putting the knowledge of Russian they acquired here at 91ֱ�� to daily use,” he says.</p> <p>Taught by upper-level language students, the winter-term classes are less formal than traditional language courses. Nicoline Meyer, a fourth-year classical civilizations and Latin literature and languages major, taught the Latin intensive course. She says that although there are frequent review quizzes and exams, the focus of the course is not on grades, but rather on participation and developing an appreciation and enthusiasm for the language. To keep the atmosphere light she often organizes review games and hosts movie nights outside of the class.</p> <p>The pace of the classes is fast, but Russian intensive teacher Hannah Grandine, a fourth-year comparative literature major and Russian minor, says the speed can work to students’ advantage, particularly with the notoriously tricky Russian grammar. She says while students taking the class traditionally risk forgetting material over the long break in between Russian 101 and 102, winter-term learners can hit the ground running with Russian 102 because they have spent the last month immersed in the language and grammar. Grandine emphasizes the class is more than just language and grammar, however. She and her co-teachers also strive to bring a sense of the Russian culture to the classroom. They speak about their experiences studying abroad in Russia, share their favorite authors, discuss current events, show Russian cartoons, and read a lot of Silver Age Russian poetry. “Everyone teaching the class this year is really into poetry,” Grandine says.</p> <p>Third-year Walker Griggs was another of the Russian co-teachers. He says he hopes students leave the class at the end of the month feeling free to further explore Russian language and culture. “All of them signed up for this class because the culture intrigues them. Now they should feel free to engage with the culture, music, literature, or art in a new way, with a greater understanding. The first time I read Chekhov's ‘The Student’ in Russian, it was an amazing new way to engage with the text. I hope they have the same experience,” he says.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-02-19T12:00:00Z">Fri, 02/19/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kasey Cheydleur</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25376">Greek Language and Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25391">Latin Language and Literature</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/classics" hreflang="und">Classics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">One of the posters advertising the winter term intensive Russian opportunity.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">the Russian Department</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Two Awarded Critical Language Scholarship</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:02:25 +0000</p> <span>Two Awarded Critical Language Scholarship</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:02:25-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:02">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:02</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The United States Department of State has selected two students for its Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) this summer.</p> <p>Second-year Sarah Chatta and first-year Olivia Evans are among the 550 undergraduate and graduate students in the nation who received a scholarship for intensive language instruction. Participants spend seven to 10 weeks in intensive language institutes this summer in one of 13 countries to study Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, or Urdu.</p> <p>The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to dramatically expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. It provides fully funded, group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences. CLS Program participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the program and apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.</p> <p>Chatta, a creative writing major from Seattle, will be immersed in Punjabi at the American Institute of Indian Studies' site in Chandigarh, Punjab. She has a personal interest in learning the language: Her father and his family are Punjabi, and they speak both Hindi and Punjabi. Although she has spent significant time in India, including nine months in Delhi before coming to 91ֱ��, Chatta has not yet learned to speak Hindi or Punjabi.</p> <p>Last summer, she received a <a href="https://www.shansi.org/single-post/2019/03/04/In-Asia-Grant-Info-Session" target="_blank">Shansi In-Asia Study Grant</a> to visit New Delhi and Shimla, the capital city of India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh, two places where she has extended family members. She explored the significance of Shimla in India’s history and the Indian-Pakistani Partition by interviewing and listening to personal accounts. She is presently working on an independent project to compile her research and interviews into oral history narratives.</p> <p>Chatta also studies Russian at 91ֱ��, and she intends to declare it as a second major. She says she is grateful for the mentoring she has received from Professor of Russian Tom Newlin, who recommended the CLS Program and supported her oral history project from the beginning, as well as Azita Osanloo, visiting assistant professor of creative writing.</p> <p>Evans will receive intensive Chinese instruction at Soochow University in Suzhou, China. A member of the Asian American Alliance at 91ֱ��, she just completed fourth-year Chinese instruction with Associate Professor Qiusha Ma and will continue with fifth-year Chinese in fall 2015. “As a mixed-race Asian American, I study Chinese language and culture to reclaim a part of my identity,” Evans says.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2015-05-20T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/20/2015 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25326">Creative Writing</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mark Doliner via Flickr</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>