Russian Immersion Program
STARTALK Russian immersion program
“Russian Language in the World: Diversity, Diaspora, and Global Contribution” • February to December 2024
Participation is free including tuition, housing, food, activities and field trips. Program is funded through a National Security Agency grant for critical languages.
STARTALK Russian immersion program accepts 42 students, grades 9 through college sophomores, who have completed at least a semester of Russian language in high school, college or through independent study (this requirement does not apply to heritage speakers of Russian).
The program has three parts:
* Online pre-camp, February to May 2024
* Summer camp on campus and surrounding areas, July 7-28, 2024
* Online "Russian café" language classes, August to November, 2024
Students will be divided into three groups based on their level of proficiency, from “Novice High” to “Advanced.”
During the summer camp, you will:
* be immersed in the Russian language and cultures of Russian-speaking regions via four hours of language instruction each day and two hours of cultural activities
* visit Russian cultural sites in Oklahoma City and Tulsa
* learn about Russian art
Students will learn about the emigrant Russian-speaking populations in different countries, including the U.S., independent countries of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and other regions of the world where there is a Russian-speaking diaspora. From cooking diverse dishes to learning different dances to filming a video for the final performance, students will be immersed in an intense and interactive learning experience. All activities will be conducted in the Russian language.
Students from any U.S. state or territory may apply.
Tuition, housing, food, shuttle to and from the Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), and all field trips are provided at no cost to the students. Students are responsible only for their transportation to and from Oklahoma City. During the summer camp (July 8-29), students will live in a dormitory on the OCU campus. During the online pre-camp (February to May 2024) and post-camp parts of the program (August to December 2024), students will have weekly online synchronous Russian classes. Students are required to attend all three parts of the program.
Applicants will need to provide a recommendation letter. Select applicants will be contacted for a Zoom interview. All applications will be acknowledged.
The program especially aims to reach underrepresented students who may not have opportunities to study foreign languages in their schools.
Read more about the fun learning activities in the press release here or contact camp director Sabina Amanbayeva via email at [email protected].
