The Russian Heritage Speakers Program is intended to address the specific needs of students who speak Russian at home or with relatives, or who grew up speaking Russian and wish to strengthen their Russian skills. Program participants work with American Councils staff and host university faculty to develop an individualized program serving their unique needs as language learners. All programs focus on the development of Russian language skills, including grammar, conversation, and phonetics. Participants receive a minimum of twelve hours per week of in-class contact hours. Program features include homestays, weekly excursions, travel to other regions of the host country, conversation partners, and a wide range of opportunities to pursue hobbies and personal interests in a Russian context.
Choose to study at one of our three program sites. Each destination combines world-class language instruction with vibrant local culture and academic excellence. Click on a location below to explore program details and student experiences.
Participants in the Heritage Speakers Program take an active role in shaping their own curricula. When applying to the program, applicants write a short essay outlining their study goals and describing the academic program that they believe will best meet their needs as language students. American Councils Washington staff, resident directors, and Russian university faculty then work with each student to develop these initial proposals into effective, individualized programs. All programs focus on intensive language gain in the areas of grammar, conversation, and vocabulary development; courses in literature, history, and area studies are available for advanced students. Participants attend at least 12 hours per week of intensive, individualized classes. While almost all classes are conducted one-on-one with the teacher, students may study in pairs on some occasions.
In recent years, Russian Heritage Speakers Program participants have completed courses at their host universities in Art History, Mathematics, Engineering, Sociology, Theater Studies, Russian History, Religion, Psychology, and Literature.
8 undergraduate or 10 graduate credit hours
16 undergraduate or 15 graduate credit hours
32 undergraduate or 30 graduate credit hours
To aid cultural integration and support academic learning, participants have the opportunity to meet with conversation partners two hours per week. Conversation partners introduce participants to local people, accompany participants on sightseeing tours, organize cultural activities (cinema, museum, etc.), and provide students with academic support. The conversation partners are expected to speak only the target language.
One day a week of the academic program is set aside for travel to local sites of social, cultural and historical significance. All excursions are conducted in Russian and include sites such as museums, churches, schools, research centers, theatres, and historical estates. HSP participants attend excursions with participants on the Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP). Towards the middle of the semester, resident directors arrange a week-long regional field studies trip outside of the host city.
Visit museums, monuments, and heritage sites to explore local history deeply.
Experience daily traditions through festivals, performances, and authentic community interactions.
Tour universities, research centers, and schools to understand academic environments abroad.
Travel beyond host cities to discover unique regional landscapes and culture.
Program participants live with local, Russian-speaking host families.
Living with a host family provides valuable cultural experience to complement the academic program. Host families expose participants to authentic, everyday life in the host country while also providing a supportive environment for students to practice their growing language skills. While staying with a host family, participants are provided with a private room, two meals per day, and keys to the apartment or house. All host families are screened, selected, and monitored by American Councils home-stay coordinators and resident directors.
Multiple sources of funding are available to support participants in paying for programs abroad.
All participants must attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation before the program begins. Sessions cover health and safety, academic culture, host-family life, culture shock, and strategies for maximizing language learning. Students meet resident directors, peers, and alumni, with lodging and meals provided. Upon arrival to the host country, participants attend a site-specific in-country orientation led by program staff
While abroad, participants have access to full-time in-country staff who offer academic, administrative, and personal support, as well as 24/7 emergency assistance. The AC Study Abroad team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact with study abroad offices, university partners, and family members throughout the program
All participants are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides up to $250,000 in medical coverage per accident or illness and full emergency medical evacuation coverage.
American Councils provides visa support for participants for the duration of the program in the host country, if applicable. Students are responsible for obtaining any additional visas required by their travel plans. Visa instructions and forms are provided after acceptance.
