The C.V. Starr Middlebury College School in Russia offers three unique opportunities for students who wish to immerse themselves in the study of Russian language and culture. Unlike many American programs in Russia, in which students are segregated from regular university and community life, our programs in Irkutsk, Moscow, and Yaroslavl have been carefully designed to encourage linguistic and cultural integration. Through a flexible and demanding academic program, and with a variety of local contacts outside of the university, we strive to allow students maximum independence in their academic and social lives. In addition to improved Russian language ability, this level of independence allows students to develop practical survival skills for later work or study in the country.

This video was filmed, conceived, and edited by Donna Cardarelli, the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Russia resident coordinator for Irkutsk. The action in the film takes place in early fall 2005.

The Natural Beauty of Lake Baikal

Meet the Students

Among the most distinguishing features of the Middlebury programs are:

Provincial Locations: Participants may choose to study at well-established State Universities in provincial cities, where options for immersion in the local university and community are significantly greater than in cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Language Immersion: All School in Russia language and subject courses are taught exclusively in Russian, by instructors from the host university. Students are expected to follow the Middlebury College Language Pledge and speak only Russian in and outside of class.

Direct Enrollment Opportunities: Students of advanced-level Russian can receive Middlebury College Russian Department credit for courses which they take with Russian students, in regular university departments.

Internship Options: Russian-language internship opportunities are available at all three sites, to qualified students.

Limited Group Events: Students are housed individually in host families. Group trips and excursions are limited in number and are always optional, allowing maximum immersion outside of the American group environment.

Independent Extracurricular Activities: The School in Russia maintains contacts with sports facilities, performing arts schools and volunteer organizations in all of our provincial sites, where students may arrange their own extracurricular activities.

To achieve maximum immersion, the School in Russia strongly recommends that students enroll for a full academic year. Experience shows that students in Russia begin to feel comfortable with the language and local culture only after 3-4 months on site. As such, those who remain in Russia for a second semester tend to have more positive experiences and make better progress than those who study for a single semester.