YSU Faculty of Russian Philology - A study destination for Cambridge University students

Associate Professor Pavel Balayan from the Chair of Russian Linguistics, Typology, and Communication Theory at YSU Faculty of Russian Philology noted that a tailored academic program had been developed in advance for the University of Cambridge students, in coordination with their home university.

"The foreign students studied Russian grammar and spoken language, phonetics, as well as geolinguistics and literature. In addition, they were introduced to the history and culture of Armenia, visiting Saghmosavank, Hovhannavank, and the Armenian Alphabet Monument together with their lecturers," said Pavel Balayan.     

He emphasized that throughout the four months, special attention was paid to the development of students’ speaking skills. Discussions were organized on various topics, and students were also assigned essay writing tasks. 

"Through this program, we have advanced their language proficiency," added the associate professor.

The students who visited YSU study in different faculties at the University of Cambridge. Some focus on Russian history, while others study modern and medieval languages. They shared their impressions about studying at YSU Faculty of Russian Philology and their experiences in Armenia:

Faith Martin: "I study Russian history at the University of Cambridge. By choosing YSU, we learned Russian in a country where we had the opportunity to speak the language freely. As for YSU Faculty of Russian Philology, I believe it provided us with broad opportunities to especially develop our speaking skills in a short period." 

Michael Gavin: "I am studying at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages, the University of Cambridge. I’m very glad I had the opportunity to study at YSU and explore one of the countries in the South Caucasus—Armenia. There is a large Russian community here, and the daily use of the language greatly contributed to the improvement of our spoken Russian." 

Esme Cockain:"I study modern and medieval languages at Cambridge. I’m interested in Russian culture and literature, and I view Russian as a very widely-used language. I think in the future I will choose a career related to public service." 

Jonah Flower: "I study Russian history. I would definitely recommend studying at YSU to my fellow students, as the lecturers here are friendly and supportive, and the academic environment and quality of education are favorable."

Jonathan Reading: "My studies focus on Russian history, and I am also interested in literature and politics. I’m very satisfied with the knowledge I’ve gained during these four months at YSU. My Russian has definitely improved here."

William Hamm: "I’m studying at Cambridge’s Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages. I chose to study Russian because I’m also interested in translation. Armenia impressed me with its beautiful landscapes. On our own initiative, we visited several historical and cultural sites, including Garni, Geghard, and Jermuk. We also went hiking in Dilijan, where, despite the rainy weather, the city was very green and beautiful. We spent a lot of time in nature, enjoying the picturesque scenery of Armenia."

It is important to highlight that each semester, including during the summer, foreign students study at YSU Faculty of Russian Philology under various programs aimed at developing their proficiency in the Russian language.