SEELANGS Digest - 2 Dec 2007 - Special issue (#2007-281)

[Deborah Hoffman]

I think this would be an excellent post or handout to give to someone arriving in the Russian educational system for the first time.
   
  >Date:    Sun, 2 Dec 2007 13:34:53 -0500
>From:    Alla Polyakova <alla.polyakova at GMAIL.COM>
>Subject: Re: ACTR and their program in Moscow
>Dear Dustin,
> I audited a class for an entire semester and I must tell
> you, all the complaints come from students who unfortunately still don't
>understand the Russian education system and the country itself. Things
 >are done very differently in Russia. Even the Russian students don't know
 >the class schedule until AFTER the classes have started. It is considered
 >very normal not to come to the first 2 classes of the semester because the
>department has not made the class schedule public yet. Even when a
> schedule is known, some departments will not let anyone "audit" a class since it
 >is not widely practiced in the country and if it is not directly required
 >by an ACTR program it is not a responsibility of the RD or ACTR to do the leg
 >work for the student if they want to audit a class. 
  >let me introduce you to a very cultural difference....there are always
>schedule changes, people don't show up or they're not willing to do
 >anything to help you.  This is where ACTR has done a wonderful job to at least
>make the Russian university experience a bit more American, but nothing in
 >Russia will be given to you on a silver platter....you have to do it yourself,
>there is part of the experience that ACTR tries to teach you. They will
 >not fight your battles for you because that is physically impossible in
 >that country.
>
>My point is, Russia is not America and ACTR's job is to introduce you
 >to
>Russia and not make Russia like America.
>
>Good luck in learning about Russia.
>Alla Polyakova

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