University of Otago / Russian Program

[Dr Yoshimasa Tsuji]

Dear Jessica,
I am very sorry for you having said Russian is in demand. It is
true "Russian is in demand". I, for example, use it daily.
  The point is that Russian is not so important as it used to be
since the collapse of the Soviet block. Most of the previously
Soviet block nations are now adopting English as the first foreign
language rather than Russian and Russians themselves are learning
English much more vigorously than ever.
  It is obvious teachers of Russian have become very redundant in
East Europe (and in far east Asia as well). The reason for reducing
those in North America may reflect the dwindling interest in Russia
in the last six years (this has happened in Japan as well.)
  Admitting the demand in Russian used to be unnaturally high, I nevertheless
would like to emphasize that the necessity of learning Russian will not
go.
  Some Russians speak "English" (much better than Japanese do), but
one cannot rely on their competence for serious purposes. You ought to
make sure what they mean by asking them to state in Russian. I often
read the English version of Moscow News with students without failing
to point out Russian syntax/lexicography hidden in their English and
remind students that learning Russian is unavoidable in studying Russia.
  Russia and her past is great enough to attract other people to the
studying of the language. The importance of Russian studies will not
vanish for some time. Only the hyperinflated supply will go away. I have
no idea to which category the Russian faculty of Otago belongs.

Tsuji