Positive effects of studying Russian

[David Burrous]

Dear Seelangers:

Allow me to introduce myself:  I am David Burrous, teacher of Russian at
Standley Lake High School and Foreign Language Project Coordinator for
Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado.

After a parent complained to the assistant superintendent about the fact that
the Russian program at one of our middle schools was cancelled and after
the parent asked whether or not the school district had any idea what a positive
influence the knowledge of Russian could have on a student after graduation;
(the assistant superintendent admitted that he/we didn't/don't have a clue),
and after I applied for a research grant from the District Research Council and
received it; then I am going to contact students from Jeffco schools who
have graduated
in the last 10 years to find out if and how they are able to use Russian after
graduation.  If I am successful in supporting the idea that our students are
able to use their knowledge of Russian to their advantage after high school, I
think that I may be able to talk the school board and assorted
administrators into
supporting the Russian program in Jeffco more vigorously.

I have a couple of questions for University/College Seelangers:

1.  Do you believe that students who begin their study of Russian in
secondary school
and continue it in college have any advantages over students who do not
begin their
study of Russian until college? If yes, what advantages?

2.  Would you be interested in taking part in my research project by
answering a
short electronic questionnaire?

Please answer off-list.  I will be more than happy to publish the results
of my study
for the entire list at a later date.

Spasibo.

David E. Burrous                         * phone:       (303) 465-1144
Standley Lake Sr. High School | voice mail: (303) 982-3221
9300 West 104th Avenue          (  ) fax:           (303) 465-1403
Westminster, CO  80021,  USA   |  | e.mail:  burrous at csn.net
  -----------"Eh, l'vy! Nye Vy li vyli u Nyevy?!"------------