Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania: Russian (Hybrid)

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.