Russian Language Institute
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| General Information | Academic Program | Academic Policy |
| Courses | Informal Language Immersion Activities |
| Housing and Meals | Admissions and Financial Aid |
| Contact Information |
SUMMER 2009 APPLICATION
IS HERE!
(**Determination of acceptance into the summer Russian language program is made on
a Rolling Admissions basis, except for those applying for financial aid**)
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 (dinner) 7:30 - 10:00 Extracurricular activities or study time |
Most students reside on campus in a Russian-only wing in 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. In the past, lecture topics have included the Russian contemporary living, study abroad, Russian classical music, and the Russian Orthodox Church,
Field Trips:
In the past participants have had the opportunity to take field trips to Russian concerts, Russian exhibits at nearby museums, Russian Orthodox churches, Russian-related activities in Washington DC, and the Russian immigrant community in Brighton Beach, NY. (Depending on cost some additional fees may be charged for field trips. To keep the initial cost down, we do not charge these fees ahead of time.)
Film Series:
Films are shown at least once a week. Students are strongly encouraged to attend film screenings, but are not required.
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 campus dorms during the summer. Some faculty members may also reside on campus, as will a dorm adviser. Rooms in the dorms 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 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 2009 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 March 16, 2009. All decisions on financial aid will be made by late April. 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.
Because of the limited number of slots available in each of the three levels, all persons interested in applying to the program are encouraged to do so at the 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.