Finding an intensive foreign language program as a working professional is no easy task. By far, most foreign language programs are geared towards students, and few can accommodate the comparably inflexible schedules of working professionals. In my case, I was looking for an online advanced Russian language program that could accommodate my language learning goals as a heritage speaker of Russian as well as my academic and professional goals of pursuing anthropological research on Ukrainian and Russophone communities. I was also in need of a program that could accommodate my work schedule as a teacher. That’s why I was beyond excited to see that American Councils offers such a program! The Online Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) supports the language learning goals of students and working professionals like me who are unable to study abroad.
As an alumna of the Critical Language Scholarship study abroad program in 2017, I was already familiar with the level of rigorous language and cultural training that American Councils sets as their standard. The American Councils office and faculty in Chișinău, Moldova have gone above and beyond my expectations for a remote and part-time language program. Since the start, my Reading and Writing, Listening and Speaking, Grammar, and Conversation classes have all been one-on-one instruction to meet my language learning needs as a heritage speaker. All my instructors have worked with me throughout our lessons on personalizing instruction and conversation practice to fit my language learning needs and goals.
Along with my weekly requirement of six hours of academic instruction, I am also required to meet with my language partner for one hour per week and have a weekly cultural activities class. My language partner and I enjoy talking about nearly every topic under the sun. Our conversation practice continues throughout the week as well, and he frequently checks in with me to ask about my preferences and how our meetings could be more beneficial for me.
The cultural activities class has been engaging and insightful on Moldovan and Romanian culture. During these classes, I get to meet with other students on the program. We’ve gone on high-quality virtual tours of Cricova Winery, a famous underground winery, and made traditional Romanian arts and crafts. Just recently, we made Mărțișor together for Mărțișor Day on March 1st. This day is a Romanian tradition celebrated at the beginning of spring in March. We made Mărțișor, a symbol of spring that is made from intertwining white and red yarn and that is based on a legend of two star-crossed lovers. Red is used to symbolize the love for everything that is beautiful and the color of blood from a person who has fought bravely for what they believe in. White is used to symbolize rejuvenation and newness like the first flowers in spring. We had a lot of laughs over our attempts at making yarn figures of a man and woman.
I have been touched by the thoughtfulness and care of the faculty at the American Councils office in Chișinău!
American Councils Study Abroad Alumni Scholarship
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) Online
Classes administered by AC staff in Chișinău, Moldova