Activities and Achievements of Our International Students
One-year programme of Russian as a foreign language has been in operation at HSE – Nizhny Novgorod since October 2017. International students who are enrolled in it do not only study theory and practice of Russian but are also involved in extra-curricular activities. Ksenia Grushko and Irina Makarova are the bright teachers who inspire participants of their course to master the language and take part in different academic events which can l help young people in their studies and may broaden understanding of Russia, its literature and culture.
A creative approach plays an important role in teaching. Traditional methods and “drilling” without cultural context, communication with native speakers will not motivate students and produce good results. Cultural and language immersion includes not only class-room activities but also excursions, professional contests, and festivals.
In November, 2018, on the eve of the National Unity Day, classes ofcolloquial Russian were devoted to Nizhny Novgorod, its history, sights and especially to the holiday. The students had been studying language only for two weeks for that reason the format of narrative was simplified. After the classes the group was invited to the excursion around the city historic centre. During the two-hour tour the young men had a chance to get acquainted with monuments to Valery Chkalov, Maxim Gorky, Kozma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. They learnt some local legends, and what more they got closer to each other: that is how people become friends.
In autumn 2018 seven students of the group took part in VIII Festival “Folklore – confession of the nation”. At the first stage students wrote an essay about Russian and their native folklore. Having passed the first selection, all participants had to shoot a video on folk creative work. Though there was not much time for preparation, students, being goal-oriented and responsible, coped with the task. They worked after classes, supporting each other, and as a result produced several video-projects:
Guanfu Li – Russian fairy-tale «Kolobok»
Wang Yiping – китайская народная сказка «Послушный ученик»
Ladjal Brahim– Russian sung couplets about love
Ouyang Jiayi– Russian folk song “Milenkii ty moi” (“My Darling”)
Salih Ali– a fragment of fairy-tale « Ali baba,. or the forty thieves »
Williams Richard– fragment «Robin Hood Legend»
Chen Dan – Russian lullaby
On January 18, 2019 the final stage of online-festival was held at Moscow State University. The best students’ projects were presented there. Having got invitations from MSU, three contestants from HSE – Nizhny Novgorod left for Moscow. All festival participants from our university got special diplomas, Ladjal Brahim being recognized as the Festival winner. With enthusiasm he sang Russian folk songs and couplets at the final ceremony.
After the event the group visited the Red square and went for a promenade along the Moscow streets.
On February 11-12, 2018 international students of Russian Language programme participated in the annual festival “In That Big world” organized by Nizhny Novgorod Linguistic University. Richard Williams Ричард Уильямс took part in essay competition; Brahim Ladjal shared his views on national secrets of happiness at a round-table and showed his culinary achievements at an international fair.
On February 21 Ouyang Jiayi, Wang Yiping, Salih Ali, and Ladjal Brahim checked their knowledge of Russian at “Total Dictation” at Nizhny Novgorod Linguistic University.
On March 14 our international students participated in festival “Russian Word” organized by radio station “Serebryanyi Dozhd” and Nizhny Novgorod Architectural Academy. They sang Russian folk songs, read poems of Soviet poets. On April 18
Under supervision of Irina Makarova and Ksenia GrushkoWang Yiping and Ladjal Brahim wrote scholarly papers which they presented at a conference at Moscow State Institute of International Relations on March 30. The reports will be published soon in collection of articles which is included into Russian Citation Index base.
On April 18 Ali Salih took part in conference «Man. Society. Culture. Socialization», in Ufa (Baskortostan Republic). Apart from academic activities, hemanaged to see the sights of the city.
Students have reached a lot during the academic year. Soon they will get certificates that will give them a chance to enter Higher School of Economics – Nizhny Novgorod or other universities.
The international group expresses their gratitude to their teachers Ksenia Grushko and Irina Makarova for classes of Russian, supervision at academic and social events.