Summer Camp in SIBERIA

Mon Jan 22 07:10:20 UTC 2007

Dear Colleagues,

The Educational Center "COSMOPOLITAN", located in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia, Russia, is still accepting applications for participation in the "LINKING THE PLANET" International Summer Language Camp. One can participate in the program as either a volunteer teacher/workshop coordinator/camp counselor or as an international student of the Russian course. Many of the teaching positions have been filled now because quite a lot of people have taken advantage of an early-bird application opportunity and signed up for the program before January 1st. At the same time, there are still a few volunteer teacher's vacancies available at each of the four summer sessions of the camp, and the number of international student's positions is not limited at this point. 

Could you please inform your students and colleagues about the program that we offer and advise them to take advantage of this unique cultural opportunity. 

The Summer Camp will be taking place in a picturesque area outside of the largest Siberian city of Novosibirsk, during the summer 2007 in four consecutive two-week sessions, with participation of local Russian children, youth and adults, as well as volunteer teachers and international students from around the globe. 

The program is a great chance for international participants to learn the Russian language and get a first-hand experience of the Russian culture. It provides the unique cultural opportunity of daily interaction with the Russian children, youth and the teaching staff. The RUSSIAN COURSE is organized for overseas students and volunteer teachers and includes language studies as well as learning about the Russian culture, history and society.

We are looking for native speakers of English, German, French, Spanish and other languages, who would like to participate in the Summer Camp as VOLUNTEER TEACHERS of their language or Volunteer Creativity Workshop Coordinators or VOLUNTEER CAMP COUNCELORS. No previous teaching experience is required. University students are eligible to apply as volunteer teachers/workshop coordinators/camp counselors. Teaching at the camp can be considered as an INTERNSHIP with all necessary paperwork and an on-site internship supervision provided. We are looking for people who are energetic, enthusiastic, open-minded, sociable, enjoy camp experiences, are willing to share their knowledge and culture. 

We also seek people worldwide (middle school through university STUDENTS, and ADULTS) to join the Summer Camp as international students of the Russian course and enjoy all the exciting activities scheduled within the program.

The major benefits to join our summer program are as follows:
1) You don't have to be a professional teacher in order to
volunteer for the program. The most important aspect is your willingness to
participate and share your knowledge and culture, as well as your enthusiasm
and good will. Teaching at the camp is not like an academic teaching routine, it's more like fun where emphasis is
made on communication. Our school will provide you with the daily topical schedule for the classes and will be happy to assist with lesson planning and teaching materials. University students are eligible to apply as volunteer teachers. You will gain valuable practical experience, proven ability and contacts that you can use to get a future job.  
2) This is a not-for-profit program. Volunteer teachers/workshop coordinators and international students pay for their living and meals expenses, international students' fee also includes intensive tuition in the Russian language and culture. (Teachers/workshop coordinators/camp counselors do not have to pay for the Russian course, it is provided by our school as a benefit for their volunteer teaching). Participation fee covers expenses on accommodation in a recreation center and ALL meals. If you come to Russia (Siberia) on your own or through a travel agency you will spend much more money compared to what you would pay to participate in our
program. Participating in our program you won't need much pocket
money, just maybe some to buy souvenirs and gifts to take back home.
All the local services (airport pick-up, local transportation, excursions)
are provided by our school without any additional payment.
3) Russian course is organized for ALL international participants of the program. Russian classes are taught by well-educated native
speakers trained to teach foreigners. You will be placed in a group
according to your level of Russian. No previous knowledge of Russian is
required. Peculiarity of our Russian courses for
international students consists in combination of intensive tuition and
extensive social and cultural programs, and this is what makes our Russian
studies programs different from the ones offered by other schools. In
addition to the in-class tuition our course also includes dynamic "live and
learn" intercultural conversational sessions which allow to gain language
practice in real life situatons. We also offer workshops related to the
Russian culture and traditions.
4) We organize an exciting cultural, social and excursion program for all 
international participants of the camp, which is a very enriching experience.
You will be involved in interaction with the Russian children, youth and
adults all the time. This is the kind of experience you will never get if
you go as a tourist.
5) You will gain a first-hand experience of the Russian culture and life
style and particularly the Siberian one. They say if you want to know what
real Russia is like you should go to Siberia.
6) If you are planning a trip to Russia and would like to consider our
program you should take into consideration that if you do go to Russia you
will need an invitation to receive the Russian visa in any case. All travel
agencies and tourist companies charge for an invitation. As far as our
program is concerned, you won't have to pay anything extra for the official
invitation form that you will need to get the Russian visa. We provide all our foreign participants with the
invitation and arrange their registration on arrival.
7) You will meet people from other countries who are going to participate in
this program and this is a very interesting experience. Many of our former
foreign participants keep in touch with each other after the program and
even visit each other in all the different countries.
8) We also offer excursion packages which include trips to Moscow, St.
Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Lake Baikal, the Altai Mountains, TransSiberian Railroad, 'Welcome to
Siberia' program. All the details and tour descriptions are available at request.

* Have you always wanted to add some meaning to an overseas adventure?
* Do you want a new, challenging experience?

* Do you like to meet people from other countries and get your energy from working towards a goal as part of a team?

* Are you willing to gain experience, improve communication abilities, and develop skills that will help in your future employment?

* Have you ever daydreamed about gaining insight into the Russian culture and life in a way no traveler could?

If 'yes' is the answer, our program  is the best way for you to spend your summer vacation! For further details please email cosmopolitan at online.nsk.su  or cosmoschool2 at mail.ru 

Regards,

Natasha Bodrova,

Director of the Educational Center "Cosmopolitan",

Novosibirsk, Russia

cosmopolitan at online.nsk.su

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