Program Overview

The CLS institute in Tbilisi 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 Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), which opened in Tbilisi in 1918 and was the first national university in the Caucasus region. Formal classroom instruction consists of approximately four hours per day of language classes, five days per week. Classes focus on the four skills of language development – listening, speaking, reading and writing and include authentic material from literature, the mass media and pop culture.

Cultural excursions, lectures, and other enrichment activities are designed to support and enhance language learning and exposure to the host culture. Past activities have explored traditional dance, folklore, and history of Georgia and the Caucasus, as well as the unique relationship between Georgia and the Russian Federation.

CLS students in Tbilisi will experience daily life in Georgia’s largest and capital city. Participants will likely enjoy exploring the city’s public parks and recently remodeled districts, where they can see the mix of old and new architecture. During a free weekend, students may also consider traveling independently to nearby cities such as Gori, Borjomi, Sighnaghi or Telavi. Students on the CLS program in Tbilisi live with host families and meet regularly with language partners for more conversational practice and immersion in local life. In the past, students have enjoyed nightly dinners and conversation over tea with their host families, as well as exploring the city together. Language partners have introduced CLS students to local youth culture by visiting restaurants and cafes, shopping for gifts in the Old City, going to concerts and the theater, and exploring the towns and countryside outside of Tbilisi.