Recognized as one of the best Russian language programs in the world, Middlebury College's School of Russian has been offering language and culture instruction in Russian in an intensive immersion setting for 62 years.
Re-named in 2006 as the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian, the school welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds with various reasons for attending. These can include a Russian background; a love for Russian language, literature, and culture; or future careers in business, government service, journalism, academia, or non-profit organizations. But they all share the same strong motivation to learn Russian.
The Davis School of Russian faculty are united by their love for teaching and their unflagging commitment to students. Many faculty members are textbook authors, and all instructors use the best print and electronic material available. In the intensive and intellectually challenging small classes at the Davis School of Russian, students apply what they learn. Whether preparing and performing a short skit, engaging in a role play or simulation, making oral presentations or a report on Russian TV news, students use Russian actively in class.
The School invites exciting guests representing different aspects of Russian culture. In recent years the School has hosted talk show host Elena Khanga; writer Vladimir Voinovich; actor and director Veniamin Smekhov; and filmmakers Pavel Lounguine, Alexander Mitta, Marina Goldovskaia, Alla Surikova, and Vladimir Khotinenko.
Our co-curricular program for the summer of 2008 promises to be as exciting as ever. The cultural program will feature lectures and performances by a guest writier, guest directors, faculty and student performances including productions of the choir and theater troupe. The Russian School will show recent feature-length films and television series several times a week. Students are encouraged to participate in other activities such as the newspaper and radio station, chess and tea-drinking evenings, soccer and volleyball teams, a variety of clubs, and much more. Students not only study Russian; they live it.
Russian is the only language students speak or hear at the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian because of the Language Pledge, a formal commitment observed in all Middlebury Language Schools that requires students and faculty to communicate only in the language of study. The Pledge plays a significant role in the success of the Language Schools -- not only as a symbol of the commitment essential to immersion.
The School provides a supportive and nurturing atmosphere. Faculty and staff care deeply about the success of each and every student, and teachers provide individual consultations and progress reports throughout the summer to help students reach their goals.
The six-week graduate session in the Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian offers degree programs for the Master of Arts in Russian and the Doctor of Modern Languages degree, in addition to coursework for credit transfer and professional development. Our graduate program typically offers courses in language, linguistics, literature, film, history, politics, economics, and culture. Please see our graduate course listings for this year's course titles and further details.
The School in Russia, established by Middlebury in 1977, was one of the first undergraduate study abroad programs in the former Soviet Union. Sites are now located in Moscow, Irkutsk, and Yaroslavl for undergraduate study. M.A. and D.M.L. candidates may spend one or two semesters studying in Moscow as part of their degree program.
Last page update: 2007 09 18