University of Virginia Russian Summer Language Institute

[Rachel Stauffer]

Posted on behalf of the University of Virginia Slavic Department:


The University of Virginia's Russian Summer Language Institute (June 9-August 8, 2008) is an intensive program offering a twelve-credit course covering the equivalent of first- and second-year Russian. The approach is proficiency-based, using Golosa as the primary text and emphasizing each of the four basic skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Class meets Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 and 1:00-4:00, with one instructor for the morning session, and another for the afternoon. Tutoring, direct additional practice in conversation, and cultural activities are provided from 6:30-8:00 each weekday evening.

Summer 2008 will be the twenty-eighth anniversary of the University of Virginia's Summer Russian Language Institute. The Institute is unusual in offering the equivalent of not one, but two, years of Russian in the eight and one-half week Summer Session. Participants in the Institute earn 12 University of Virginia credits, and those who are regular University of Virginia students take RUSS 301 and 302 in the academic year following the Institute, should they wish to continue with the language. Students completing the program should be prepared to profit fully from the experience of study abroad. The Russian Summer Language Institute has been especially helpful to graduate students who find that they need, or want, knowledge of Russian language but did not take it during their undergraduate careers. It also enables undergraduate students who decide late that they wish to major in Russian language and/or area studies to do so.

The faculty of the 2008 Russian Summer Language Institute includes:

Mark J. Elson, Director 
(BA, University of Michigan; MA and PhD, Harvard University). Summer 2008 will be Mr. Elson's 27th with the Russian SLI. He is Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University. His research interests include general linguistics and Balkan linguistics, especially the history and structure of Macedonian and Bulgarian (Balkan Slavic languages) and Romanian (a Balkan Romance language). He is also interested in the history and structure of Spanish and Italian. In addition to his research, he enjoys language teaching, and looks forward each summer to the challenge of completing 12 credits (the equivalent of first and second year) of Russian in 9 weeks.

Alla Lamp 
(BA, Saratov State University ; MA, University of Virginia). Summer 2008 will be Ms. Lamp's 2nd with the Russian SLI. She is currently a PhD candidate in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University. Her research interest is Russian literature of the 19th and early 20th cenuries.  She is especially interested in female initiation into adulthood.

John H. Lyles
(BA, University of South Carolina; MA, University of Virginia). This will be Mr. Lyles' second summer with the Russian SLI. He is currently a PhD candidate in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University. His research interests are in Russian language pedagogy, twentieth century Russian satire, and the role of literature in race relations in Russia. He spent the academic year 2005-2006 in St. Petersburg taking courses at St. Petersburg State University.

Contact Information:

Mark J. Elson, Director
Russian Summer Language Institute
PO Box 400783
109 Cabell Hall
Charlottesville VA 22904-4783

Phone: (434) 924-6685
Fax: (434) 982-2744 
E-Mail: mje at virginia.edu

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