Russian Language & Culture

Hunter College & SUNY Brockport

Hunter College joins forces with SUNY Brockport to provide students with the Russian Language and Culture program in the Russian city of Lord Novgorod the Great (Novgorod). Novgorod, the oldest Russian city, founded in 859,has one of the best museum collections in Russia and hosts several archeological digs every summer because its unique soil keeps objects preserved through the centuries.  It also remains the center where traditional folk arts are preserved.  Because of its age and geographic location every aspect of Russian history is represented in Novgorod and the resources that it provides.  The city is conveniently located only 130 miles away from St. Petersburg, the center of cultural life in Russia; 70 miles away from Staraya Russa, where Dostoevsky wrote some of his novels; and about 200 miles away from Pskov, the ancient frontier city that guarded the borders of Russia from German and Swedish knights.  The program includes excursions to all 3 locations.

All students will take the following classes, which together will account for 6 credits: Russian Language (at the beginning, intermediate or advanced level); Culture and History; Russian Traditional Art. Language classes will meet in the morning from 9 am to 12 pm. The afternoons will include the Art or Culture and History class and/or trips to museums, historical sites, and other Novgorod attractions and activities. In addition to the homework assignments and tests for the courses, students will have two special assignments: keeping a journal of their experience and making a class presentation on selected topic.

In Novgorod, students will stay with local families, where they will also eat their meals. Host families will have at least one member who speaks English, but they will make their American guests practice Russian!