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General
Information
Founded in 1977, the Russian Language Institute
(RLI) at Bryn Mawr seeks to support the study and teaching of Russian
in the United States by providing an intensive-immersion setting for
both teachers and learners of the language. RLI offers four- and eight-week programs for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, concentrating on language training. Specialized seminars are also periodically offered for high school and college Russian teachers of Russian under the auspices of RLI.
The eight-week Russian Language Institute offers
a highly-focused curriculum and a study environment conducive to the
rapid development of the four language skills (oral, aural, writing,
reading) as well as cultural awareness. The program draws participants
from a broad spectrum of academic fields, occupations, ages, and interests.
Course offerings are designed to accommodate a full range of language
learners, from the beginner to the advanced learner
(three levels total). The highly intensive nature of the course work
and the culturally-rich immersion environment have proven very successful
in providing the equivalent of a full academic year of college Russian
to participants who complete the program.
Through RLI, Bryn Mawr was one of the first American
institutions in the United States to establish an ongoing cooperative
exchange agreement with the Pushkin Institute of the Russian Language
in Moscow. The agreement covers exchanges of students, faculty, and
teaching materials, some of which are used in the summer programs.
While Bryn Mawr today is involved with several other institutions
in Russia, through the College's cooperative agreement with the American
Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR), it maintains special links
with the Pushkin Institute.
Academic
Program
The eight-week summer session is divided into two
four-week semesters, each of which comprises one course. Course offerings
include three levels of intensive language training from elementary
through third-year Russian. Each course is credited at four (4) semester
hours; thus the full eight-week program, carries eight (12) semester-hours
of credit. Using the Bryn Mawr system, this translates into two (3)
units (one unit equals four semester-hours).
All courses strongly emphasize the development of
speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in Modern Standard
Russian within the context of a systematic and structured approach
to the mastery of Russian grammar and vocabulary. Courses are team-taught
and consist of three types of activities: 1) Master classes (presentation
and clarification of new structures, materials, models); 2) Drill
sessions (language activization, readings, drills); 3) Situational
training (role playing, simulations, and the development of maximum
numbers of contexts/ situations for authentic language use). In addition,
each course includes individual work with the Language Learning Center's
audio, video, and computer facilities.
Where appropriate pre- and post-program proficiency
testing of oral, and, of reading competencies is included as a regular
part of program testing. Placement into appropriate course levels
takes into consideration each student's prior course work and personal
goals in pursuing summer study.
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Sample
Daily Schedule
7:30 - 9:00 Russian Table (breakfast)
9:10 - 10:30 Class
11:00 - 12:20 Class
12:30 - 1:30 Russian Table with faculty (lunch)
1:40 - 3:00 Class
3:00 - 4:00 Laboratory Work: computer, video,
and oral/aural
4:30 - 5:20 Optional Activities (Russian news,
play rehearsal, Russian social hour)
5:30 - 6:30 Russian Table (supper)
7:30 - 10:00 Extracurricular activities or study
time
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Most students
reside on campus in a Russian-only wing of one of the dorms for the
duration of the program. Students who reside locally are expected
to be on campus from at least 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. However, chronic absence extracurricular activities may result
in a reduction of the overall effectiveness of the immersion experience
for the learner.
Academic
Policy
Students must complete all assigned work and exams
by the deadlines stated by their instructors, and no student will
be allowed to complete any work after the close of the program. The
summer program does not allow for grades of "incomplete" or "credit/no
credit".
Any student wishing to audit a course can do so
only by stating this intention in writing before the first day of
classes. No change in status (from audit to graded or graded to audit)
can be permitted after classes have begun. Students should also be
forewarned that an auditor will have no official transcript of the
program, i.e., there will be nothing official to indicate that the
auditing student ever took a course. Auditors must still pay 1/2 of
the tuition fees, full room and board, and full book costs. Finally,
auditors are expected to be fully participating members of their classes
and of most extra-curricular activities, completing all the work and
exams required of every other student.
All students will be asked to complete course evaluations
forms, giving their honest assessments of the quality of the instruction
and the content of their classes, and expressing their opinions of
the immersion program as a whole.
Course
Descriptions
Russian 001, 002: Elementary Russian:
A beginning-level course of Russian with strong emphasis on the development
of oral and written communicative skills, development of basic vocabulary,
and mastery of the writing system and grammatical structure.
Russian 101, 102: Intermediate Russian:
A complete second-year Russian course emphasizing intermediate-level
oral and written skills. Vocabulary study of up to 2,500 words, systematic
grammar review, readings of expository and artistic prose of medium
difficulty. Most aspects of the course are in Russian.
Russian 201, 202: Advanced Training in the Russian Language:
Intensive practice in oral and written expression based on literary
and non-literary texts of Modern Standard Russian. Emphasis is particularly
on oral development. Almost all aspects of the course are in Russian.
Informal
Language Immersion Activities
Outside of the classroom, RLI offers a variety of
extracurricular activities designed to enhance the language skills
being learned in the classroom. Activities may include guest lecturers
speaking on a variety of topics related to Russian studies and culture,
showings of Russian and Soviet films, the Russian and Slavic choirs,
international folk dancing, field trips, and weekly social hours.
Guest Lecture Series:
The guest lecture series strives to present lectures which cover a
broad range of interests and which will enhance participants cultural
awareness.
Field Trips:
In the past participants have had the opportunity to take field
trips to Russian concerts, to Russian Orthodox churches, and to
Brighton Beach, NY a Russian immigrant community. (Depending on
cost a fee may be charged for field trips.)
Film Series:
Films are shown at least once a week, and if possible twice a week.
International Folk Dancing:
Participants have the opportunity to learn folk dances from Russia,
Macedonia, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Scotland, and other
countries.
Russian Folk Singing:
This activity is for anyone interested in Russian folk, gypsy, bard
and popular songs. Linguistically, Russian songs can expand vocabulary,
improve pronunciation, increase speed in reading, help develop a
feeling for the rhythm of the language, and increase recognition
of and activize grammar learned in class. Russian songs also provide
insight into many aspects of Russian culture and history.
Housing
and Meals
Students
of Russian are expected to reside in Denbigh Hall (unless under
construction) during the summer. Some faculty members may also
reside in Denbigh, as will a dorm adviser. Rooms in Denbigh include
a bed, desk, chair, dresser, and window shade. Each student should
bring their own linens, blankets, pillows, towels, reading lamp,
and fan (important in the summer).
The Russian Table takes place in Haffner Dining
Hall, where the College's own award-winning dining service provides
participants with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Monday through Friday.
On Saturday and Sunday, the dining service provides brunch and dinner.
On weekdays, all students and faculty are present at lunch, and the
seating arrangement and meal time is structured to promote the fullest
possible interaction in Russian. While students are freer at breakfast
and dinner to eat when they choose, during service hours, everyone
will continue to speak only Russian in the dining hall. Those faculty
and staff members living in the Russian residence hall, as well as
participants in the NEH Russian Teachers Institute, will be present
at most meals. Students choosing to live off-campus are expected to
eat lunch with their fellow participants and the faculty Monday through
Friday in Haffner. A special lunches only meal plan will be available.
Admissions
and Financial Aid
Financial
aid will be available for participation in the 2008 RLI.*
Assistance awards are based on academic merit and demonstrated
need; priority for assistance is given to advanced-level
students and to teachers of Russian. All students wishing
to apply for aid must complete, in full,
the Financial Aid Statement and return it with the other application
materials. If you are not applying for financial aid there
is no need to return the financial aid application.
Determination
of acceptance into the summer Russian language program is made
on a Rolling Admissions basis, except for those applying for financial
aid. The deadline for turning in applications is April
4, 2008. All
decisions on financial aid will be made by April 30, 2008. You
will receive notification of acceptance or non-acceptance at the
end of April as long as we are in receipt of all application materials.
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Because of the limited number of slots available
in each of the three levels, all persons interested in applying to
the program should do so at their earliest opportunity. A processing
fee of $35.00 addressed to Bryn Mawr College must accompany
every application (exception: Applicants from
the four-college community of Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College,
Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania must only submit
a $15.00 processing fee).
In order to retain a place in the program, each
person accepted must remit a refundable deposit of $500.00 to Bryn
Mawr College within two weeks of notification of acceptance. The policy
of requiring early response and deposits allows RLI to inform later
applicants in a timely and equitable manner when a course is full.**
The deposit is applied to tuition costs. Refunds of deposits are possible
under conditions that will be explained in the acceptance packets.
*CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT OF FUNDING BY THE RUSSIAN
LANGUAGE INSTITUTE.
**Bryn Mawr College reserves the right to cancel a course which does
not meet minimum enrollment.
Contact
Information
Email:
rli@brynmawr.edu
Or write:
The Russian Language Institute
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2899
(610) 526-5187
Bryn Mawr College
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic
origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, or physical ability in the
administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship
and loan programs, and athletic and other College-administered programs,
or in its employment practices.
In conformity with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, it is
also the policy of Bryn Mawr College not to discriminate on the basis
of sex in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices.
The admission of only women in the Undergraduate College is in conformity
with a provision of the act. Inquiries regarding compliance with this
legislation and other policies regarding non-discrimination may be
directed to the Equal Opportunity Officer who administers the College's
procedures in Taylor Hall.
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