Tbilisi: Russian as a Second Language
In Tbilisi, Georgia an intensive and supportive environment for Russian language study is paired with home stay to provide you with an immersive language and cultural experience. Out-of-classroom experiences and special lectures and workshops introduce you to local Georgian identity, history, and current issues in contemporary Georgia. Tbilisi is a very affordable option for study abroad, due to the many inclusions in this program and the generally low cost of living.
Semester Courses
All SRAS Russian as a Second Language programs aim to immerse you in the language with a combination of classroom hours, peer tutoring, and other out-of-classroom experiences.RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SEMESTER COURSES
RUSS 101-102/201-202/301-302/401 Russian Language Study
Russian is a still a lingua franca for politics and business in much of the post-Soviet Space. 8 credits.
RUSS 290 Russian Language in Context
This course must be taken in conjunction with RUSS 101-102/201-202. It is a conversation course focused on daily speaking scenarios. 4 credits.
RUSS 307 Advanced Conversation and Stylistics
This course must be taken in conjunction with RUSS 301-302/401. 4 credits.
RUSS 303 Advanced Russian Grammar
This course must be taken in conjunction with RUSS 101-102/201-202 and RUSS 290*. Focus is on the more challenging Russian grammar aspects at the A1-A2 level. 4 credits.
RUSS 403 Advanced Studies in Russian Language Media
This course must be taken in conjunction with RUSS 301-302/401 and RUSS 307*. 4 credits.
* Except by special permission.
OTHER ELECTIVES
REES 390 Georgia Through Cinema
In this course we will use the lens of Georgian cinema to study identity, history, culture, and social issues. Meet with leading Georgian cinematographers, screen-writers, musicians, and film directors, try your hand at creating your own screenplay, creating your own short film, or honing your skills as a film critic in one of the most cinematic countries in the world: Georgia, with the Black Sea coast, the Caucasus mountains, polyphonic singing, and more. 4 credits.
REES 390 "Food Fight!" The Intersection of Food and Politics
Food is immensely political. From cultivation (agriculture) and production to distribution (supply chains) to preparation in restaurants and our homes (consumption) - food is at the crux of local, national, and global political debates. Food is central to Georgian identity and a significant part of the country’s political, social, and economic fabric. We will examine how food and food concepts, as analytical tools, can be applied in other geographical contexts to understand political developments and social tensions. The course blends lectures and discussions with tastings, cooking, and excursions to provide an in situ experience into Georgian foodways. 4 credits.
LANG 101/102 Elementary Georgian
Georgian language is unlike any other. Whether you already study Russian or another language and just have an overall fascination with language and linguistics or you would like to boost your resume with an eye toward a career in the region or simply want to integrate even more into the local community, this is for you. If you are one of the few who is not a beginner in this language, we can arrange study at your level. 4 credits.
REES 397 Internship in Area Studies
Internship may be based on Russian or English language. 2/4 credits.
Travel and Cultural Program
The SRAS cultural program in Tbilisi is designed to give you a wide introduction to your city and to Georgia as a whole. We will have a rich program of activities in and arount Tbilisi and travel to other regions of Georgia.Sites/activities in Tbilisi: cooking class, sulphur baths, city walking tour, bazaar, National Museum, performances
Trips outside Tbilisi (several will be included): Kakheti, Kazbegi, Svaneti, Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori
Optional travel: Azerbaijan, Armenia
Summer Courses
All SRAS Russian as a Second Language programs aim to immerse you in the language with a combination of classroom hours, peer tutoring (conversation partners), and other out-of-classroom experiences.
RUSS 201-202/301-302-303/401 Russian Language Study
Small, intensive classes focus on reading, writing, grammar, speaking, comprehension, and phonetics for 20 hours per week.
Summer (10 weeks): 200 hours/10 credits
Summer (8 weeks): 160 hours/8 credits
Summer (6 weeks): 120 hours/6 credits
Summer (4 weeks): 80 hours/4 credits
Housing and Location
--In Tbilisi you will stay with a host family and provided with two meals per day. Homestays in Tbilisi vary, sometimes housing you with a family and sometimes with a single, older person or couple. In all cases, however, your host(s) will be experienced and ready to include you in conversations and daily life. Home stays are a phenomenal way to boost your Russian language and immerse yourself in the local culture.
--Partner School
Novamova is a private language school founded in 2001. Novamova is a modern school using innovative and immersive teaching methods. The school actively combines intensive classroom training with hands-on, practical usage through conversation partners, various masterclasses, discussion groups, film and literature clubs, and more. Novamova has quickly developed a strong international reputation and partners directly with a number of well-known American universities and educational organizations. Based in Kyiv, NovaMova leads educational programming throughout Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.
--Location
Tbilisi is the ancient capital of Georgia. Georgia was part of the world of the Ancient Greeks, it appears in Greek histories and myths, and the Georgians participated in the same classical humanities. Georgia was one of the world's first Christian kingdoms, having seen many of citizens converted by two of the original apostles, Simon and Andrew, in the first century. Although it has been ruled by Persians, Turks, and Slavs, the Georgians have always maintained a strong, independent orientation and a European identity. Tbilisi is a political, economic, and cultural hub, but is also still easy to navigate and the pace of life is slow enough that people still stop to have conversations with each other. Immerse yourself this summer in this green city rich with history, broad boulevards, and a diverse mix of people.
Transcripts and Credit Transfer
This program is hosted by NovaMova Language School in cooperation with SRAS. The School of Record is Stetson University (Florida, USA).Credit transfer to your home institution is usually possible. A US School of Record means that your program is supported by and documented by an accredited US university, making credit transfer relatively routine.
More information is found on the host organization's
program page.