Recommendations for summer study with the family...

[Stephen Beet]

Dear Amarilis:

      I noticed your post and concern about bringing your children
with you to Russia.   I thought you might be interested in hearing
about the Educational Centre Cosmopolitan in Novosibirsk, Siberia, as
it sound as if it would be ideal for your situation and indeed for
your children in every way.  You might look at the website to see all
that it has to offer:
http://www.cosmo-nsk.com/

     Every summer Cosmopolitan runs four two week language and
cultural camps in a fine facility on the banks of the River Ob in a
beautiful location just outside Novosibirsk.   Children from all over
Siberia and some from other parts of Russia participate in these camps
led by the director and her team of both Russian and foreign teachers
and team leaders.  The children participate in daily English lessons
according to ability every morning and in the afternoons and evenings
take part in sport, art drama, swimming, and other cultural activities
with entertainment every evening in which the whole camp participates.

    We attract many university students and others from all over the
world, but especially from the USA, France, Germany and the UK.  They
attend as either students of the Russian language or as students and
volunteer teachers, thus reducing their fee.  We have a special
relationship with Cambridge University who always send excellent
student teachers to us as part of their Russian degree course.

    These students and teachers provide daily English language
lessons to our Russian children and also help with sport, run
creativity workshops.  In turn they receive three 40 minute lessons in
the Russian language daily from our native Russian teachers.

    We also attract foreign children from all over the world who are
keen to particpate in our Russian cultural programme and begin to
learn the language.

     I participated in many camps as a volunteer teacher but now as
Head of Studies,  I co-ordinate the activities of the foreign students
and teachers.  A full programme of cultural activities is organised in
the all-inclusive fee including visits to museums, the Opera House or
maybe one of the theatres in Novosibirsk.

    The students at our camps range in age from 7 to 17 and it would
seem ideal if you were to attend one or more of the the summer
seasons. The facility is very comfortable and you would not have to
worry about baby-sitting, food, housing or indeed anything, as all is
provided and in a safe environment.  Our leaders are very experienced
and we have a medical centre and doctors on hand all the time.   There
is no need to have any injections to come to Siberia as the area is
safe and free from any infections. in the very unlikely event of any
infection or accident there is a good hospital near the camp facility.

    If you were interested, I could ask our Director BODROVA Natalia
Gennadievna to get in touch with you with details of the summer
programme, costs etc.

    It would be no problem for your children in knowing no Russian as
our children are very friendly and many have good English and would
give them every opportunity of socialising and participating.  Your
eldest could live in a room with Russians of the same age, or they
might both lodge with you in your room if you preferred this.

    Your children would be given Russian lessons by a teacher
experienced in teaching small children as beginners in Russian.  You,
in turn, would receive four 40 minute lessons in Russian in a small
group according to your level and requirements.

   We could also put you in touch with families who have sent their
children to us so that you could get some understanding from them as
to how the experience has benefited their children.   Often  parents
have accompanied their children but we sometime have unaccompanied
children from the age of 10 years.  Many of our students return year
after year.

   If this sounds of interest, I hope you will contact me for further
details.   Sorry to have written at length but I wanted to try to
answer all your points.

With best wishes,

Stephen Beet
Head of Studies
Educational Centre Cosmopolitan
NOVOSIBIRSK
On 06/04/2011, amarilis <amarilis at bugbytes.com> wrote:
> Dear SEELANGStsy:
>
> I was wondering how much success list members have had going to Russia
> with small ones in tow. I am particularly interested in maybe going for
> language training in the summer, and my little ones will be eight and
> four years old at the time. Their only language right now is English.
> General issues of concern:
>
> a. Housing. How did your children react to the difference in housing?
> b. Day care/babysitters: Did you use any? How did they work out?
> c. Tutoring for the children: Did you manage to get some Russian
> tutoring on the side for your children? How did that work out?
> d. Health care. Did your child get an ear infection? Strep? That rogue
> five days worth of fever virus? How did you manage?
> e. Your favorite memory of having your children with you in Russia.
> f. Your least favorite memory of having your children with you in Russia.
>
> Regards
> Amarilis Lugo de Fabritz
>
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-- 
Stephen

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