Program Overview

The CLS institute in Vladimir is designed to cover the equivalent of one academic year of university-level Russian study during the 8-week program, and is designed to meet the needs of students from a range of language levels and backgrounds. Students range in proficiency and experience from those who have completed the minimum required two years of college-level study or the equivalent, to heritage speakers already at an advanced level of proficiency.

Students take classes at the KORA Russian Language Center, an independent educational center founded in 1991 by faculty from Vladimir State University focusing exclusively on teaching Russian to non-native speakers. Teachers at KORA have decades of experience of teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, both in Russia and abroad in Afghanistan, Algeria, Mongolia and the United States. Formal classroom instruction consists of approximately four hours per day of language classes, five days per week. Classes include grammar, phonetics and practical conversation, as well as courses in literature and history.

In addition to classes, students will be exposed to the host country culture via an active cultural program that includes excursions, lectures, and hands-on activities. Past activities have included lectures on “Russian Rock” of the late Soviet period, cooking classes, and instruction in traditional art and music.

One of the highlights of the Russian program in Vladimir is the city itself. Students enjoy the opportunity to live in this historically important location, the administrative center of Vladimirskaya oblast and one of the cities of Russia’s iconic “Golden Ring,” a group of cities northeast of Moscow which are home to culturally important architecture, religious art and historic churches and kremlins. Excursions may include trips to see UNESCO world heritage sites, museums and monasteries. Vladimir is about 3 hours by train to Moscow, and is also well connected to other nearby towns and cities such as Suzdal, Murom and Nizhny Novgorod. Students may choose to explore these locations on their own during free weekends.

Students on the CLS program in Vladimir live with host families and meet regularly with language partners for more conversational practice and immersion in everyday life. Past students have enjoyed evening walks around the neighborhood, following nightly television programs together and weekends at the dacha with their host families. Local language partners are often open to the suggestions of the CLS students and in the past have enjoyed shopping, singing karaoke, ice skating and bowling with their language partners. Language partners may also join in on some cultural excursions at the invitation of the host institution.