Summer School "Modern Russian Language" 2011 in Moscow State Regional University.

In August 2011 Summer School "Modern Russian Language" 2011, organized by Moscow State Regional University and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), again opened it's doors to foreign students. It is important to mention that DAAD gives scholarships on a competitive basis to German students who want to learn Russian in summer school. Students from such prestigious German universities as Humboldt University, University of Georg-August in Göttingen, University of Leibniz in Hannover, Augsburg University, Karl Marx University in Trier, Dresden Technical University and other universities participated in the program of Summer School. It is good to mention that students from Xi'an Foreign Studies University also attended Summer School. Summer School had 31 students in total, among them 20 had German Academic Exchange Service scholarship. While organizing Summer School they received over 75 applications from German students.

Opening ceremony

After the opening ceremony students took the Russian language test

Summer School started on the 6th and the 7th of August 2011. These days students were arriving to Moscow airports where they were met by representatives of Moscow State Regional University and taken to Perlovskaya MGOU Hostel. Students were provided with two meals a day.

The curriculum of the Summer School included a practical course in Russian language, created for beginners (levels A1, A2), as well as for students with basic knowledge (levels B1, B2) and advanced students (level C1). The morning sessions were conducted in Russian and in the afternoon participants were taken to touristic program which helped to consolidate the knowledge of Russian through learning Russian culture, customs and traditions. Students significantly improved their knowledge and expanded their understanding of Russia, Moscow and Moscow Region.

Presentation of diplomas

On the eighth of August the opening ceremony was held, it was attended by the Rector of MGOU Pavel Khromenkov, Vice-rector for Research and International Cooperation Vladimir Klychnikov, deputy head of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Moscow, Mr. Stephen Karsh, Chief of the Moscow office of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Dr. Em, Director of Russian Resource Center Marina Mischerina, teachers of Summer School - specialists in teaching Russian as a foreign language, as well as students from German and Chinese universities.

Teachers Elena Markova and Marina Mischerina with students

After the opening ceremony students took the Russian language test and then had a tour to Perlovskaya educational building of the Moscow State Regional University. The students visited museums, which represented the best works of students in MGOU: Art Museum, Iconography Museum, Geological Museum.

According to the results of classification test, four study groups were formed. Teachers were specialists in teaching Russian as a foreign language in Moscow State Regional University: Professor Elena Markova, Associate Professor Marina Mischerina, Associate Professor Valkova Elena and Tutor Tatiana Shiryaeva.

Students sang Russian songs on the concert

The first group consisted of six beginner students, the key point in classes was phonetics, students also studied speech patterns and created microtext on given topics. The group of intermediate students was focused on grammar. In the advanced group key point was speaking, discussion of the history and culture of Russia, its political system. It is important to emphasize that this group was multinational: it consisted of German and Chinese students, so they discussed particular geographical locations, economics, political and cultural life not only of Russia but also Germany and China. The forth group consisted of three students who spoke Russian rather fluent. They had good communication skills, but couldn't read or write, so classes were focused on reading and writing.

It should be mentioned that no matter in which group students studied, the main idea was to teach students to use adequate, coherent speech. Besides training sessions, the students studied Russian folk songs, tales, jokes, some of them foreign students used to prepare a performance at the farewell party.

In order to let students learn more about Russia watching Russian films was organized, for example such films as "Operation Y and other adventures of Shurik", "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession," "The Diamond Arm" and others.

Participants expressed their gratitude for the excellent conduct of lessons, good organization of cultural events, for friendship, kindness and sympathy

The outcome of the Summer School has become a creative result: students performed the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood," sang the song "Darling you're my," "Katyusha," "Let run clumsily ..." "I remember you" by Dima Bilan. Students played some jokes and of coarse had the final test, on the basis of which they received a certificate that matched they level of proficiency. It should be mentioned that students were provided with an extensive cultural program. They visited the state historical-architectural, artistic and landscape museum Tsaritsyno, The Moscow Kremlin, the State Tretyakov Gallery, Sergiev Posad, St. Basil's Cathedral and many other places. Even bad traffic didn’t spoil students’ impressions of Moscow.

"Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale

The 26th of August the closing of the Summer School "Modern Russian Language" 2011 took place. It was attended by Vice-rector for education and youth policy Vyacheslav Horihin, as well as teachers and participants of the Summer School, the staff of the International Cooperation Department and guests of the evening.

In his speech Vyacheslav Horihin, summarizing the work done, expressed confidence that Summer School went successfully and the participants raised the level of knowledge and developed communication skills.

Continued the ceremony of closing of the Chief of the International Cooperation Department Svetlana Tonsheva, who thanked all participants for their cooperation, interest in Russian language and culture and for their distribution in Western Europe and Asia.

Chinese students impressed the guests of the evening by playing guitar and singing the songs "Moscow Nights" and "I'll remember."

At the end of the closing ceremony of the Summer School participants made an unforgettable gift for teachers and organizers of the school - a concert. German students sang a few Russian songs ("Katyusha", "Darling you're my, take me with you," "Song of the crocodile Gena"), performed "Little Red Riding Hood" fairy tale and played a few humorous scenes. Chinese students impressed the guests of the evening by playing guitar and singing the songs "Moscow Nights" and "I'll remember." The concert was very bright, colorful and memorable, none of those present remained indifferent.

German students sang Russian song "Katyusha"

School went successfully, and the only thing which needs to be improved is teaching materials, as for the moment School didn't have suitable book for short term students and teachers had to prepare materials themselves.

The official part was followed by a banquet, which took place in an atmosphere of joy, fun and companionship unity. Warm, kind, happy and at the same time a little sad words were pronounced, as time to leave was coming closer. All participants expressed their gratitude for the excellent conduct of lessons, good organization of cultural events, for friendship, kindness and sympathy.

The 27th and 28th of August was time for students' departure. They left with a new store of knowledge, lots of new emotions and impressions, and despite the fact that they were saying goodbye to MGOU, their confidence in the fact that they would meet again wasn't leaving them.

Near the entrance of the studying building