Summer Language Institute - Russian

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Russian SLI 2024 - In Person 

Russian is again emerging (after a lull in the last decade of the twentieth century) as a language of importance in the arena of international politics and business/commerce. It has never ceased to be such a language in the world of literature and culture. In the Russian Summer Language Institute, we’ll cover all the fundamentals of grammar necessary to meet the demands of language use and communication in everyday life, which include conversing (speaking and listening) and reading, the latter being essential for newspapers, completion of forms, etc.  We’ll also introduce you to Russian history and culture (music, literature, film) and pop culture.  

Pedagogy and Philosophy  

We describe our program as intensive and accelerated. Our goal is to cover the fundamentals of Russian spelling, sound, and grammar, which are needed for speaking in simple and complex sentences on a variety of topics and for reading in the original. With regard to speaking/listening, we aim for Intermediate-mid on the  ACTFL Scale, and with regard to grammar/reading, we aim for the ability to read and translate (with a dictionary) expository prose of the type occurring in everyday documents (announcements, advertisements, etc.) as well as in expository prose (newspapers, essays, novels). 

Unique Features of the Program  

The Summer Language Institute covers two full years of Russian, the equivalent of the first year AND second year yielding twelve credits and fulfilling the University of Virginia language requirement. No previous knowledge of Russian is assumed or required. Upon successfully completing our program, you can expect to enter Third-Year Russian at the University of Virginia or your school. We welcome qualified high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, and motivated adult language learners.  

What students say about Russian SLI: 

"Thank you again for an incredible experience at the Summer Language Institute...If there's one lesson I took away from the summer, it is confidence; confidence that I can tackle this language, no matter how daunting it seems, if I want it hard enough. And now armed with a strong foundation of grammar, I am more confident than ever."

Required Textbook: 

Robin, Richard M.; Evans-Romaine, Karen; Shatalina, Galina. Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian – edition TBD. Pearson, 2011 

Program Structure  

The Russian Summer Language Institute meets five days per week with three different Instructors. Students meet from 8 to 11:30 in the morning for grammar, reading, and listening with the primary instructor; the early afternoon class meets from 12:30 to 3:30 and focuses on speaking/conversation, writing, and additional work on grammar and listening with a native-speaker graduate teaching assistant. In the late afternoon class, from 4 to 5:30, students learn about Russian culture, review material and topics covered during the day, and participate in cultural activities outside class, such as cooking. 

Eight weeks – 12 credits – Tentative Daily Schedule:  

The program meets five days a week for eight weeks. 

Morning 8:30-11:30 Grammar-Reading-Listening 

Afternoon 12:30-3:30 Speaking/Conversation-Writing-Practice 

Evening 4:00-5:30 Cultural Activities 

2024 Costs 

Students in all SLI programs, including the non-credit option, must pay the Institute Fee of $60.00 and the Comprehensive Fee. See Summer Session Housing for information on housing costs. See Dining for Information on meal plans. 

Please note that graduate-level tuition applies to current UVA students who will graduate in May, before the start of the SLI. 

Contact Information: 

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Director: Professor Mark J. Elson
New Cabell Hall 261
(434) 924-6685