From July 1 to August 1, 2023 within the framework of the “Project Ijevan Valley EdTech Summer School-2023” project, a summer school (internship) entitled “Increasing the effectiveness of education of students of the Russian language and culture in Armenia in a multicultural world” was implemented for students of the University of Iowa, USA, at the Ijevan branch of YSU. The school was conducted with the participation of the project manager and coordinator, professor of the Department of Foreign Languages of YSU IB Svetlana Minasyan, the lecturers of the branch involved in the program, and the director of the Russian program of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures of the University of Iowa, USA, and the coordinator of the program from the American side, Irina Kostina.
The main goal of the program is to identify and develop students' creative abilities in the Russian language and literature, culture, design and research activities. The program is designed for levels A-2, B-1 of Russian language proficiency.
The summer school is a great opportunity to improve the practical use of the Russian language, get acquainted with Russian, Armenian cultures, history, and introduce American culture, literature, and history to the students of the Ijevan branch of YSU.
The courses are ideal for students and postgraduates with a humanities focus, whose training program mainly includes expanding their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian culture, and history.
This intensive course is designed for students who have previously studied Russian and have basic knowledge of grammar, phonetics, and Russian vocabulary. The courses held within the framework of the program will help participants deepen their practical skills in Russian, expand their vocabulary, develop reading skills, and conversational language. Special attention was paid to the training of Russian listening comprehension (listening and speaking), discussions, and speeches. The duration of the full program was 3 weeks (120 hours).
The curriculum includes:
• Practical complex lessons of Russian as a foreign language at levels A-2, B-1 based on storytelling, application of innovative systematic learning programs, presentation of creative works as a result of the course,
• thematic classes (acquaintance with the history, traditions and culture of Russia, Armenia, comparing with American culture),
• visits to the sights of Armenia (hiking and bus tours).
The cultural part of the program mwas also very rich. On Saturday and Sunday, the school participants conducted tours of tourist attractions and historical monuments of Tavush region, monastic complexes. The students spent their last days in the capital of Armenia: they had meetings at YSU, got acquainted with the sights of Yerevan, visited Sevan, Garni, Geghard and Tatev.
At the end of the summer school courses implemented within the framework of the “Project Ijevan Valley EdTech Summer School-2023” project, American students received certificates.
