Russian Language in Latvia
This program is for students looking to travel to a Russian-speaking country and improve their language skills. It is offered every summer in Daugavpils, the second-largest city in Latvia. Daugavpils is considered the “most Russian” city in the European Union. For six weeks, participants will attend intensive Russian classes, live with Russian-speaking host families, and participate in many local and overnight excursions.
Students officially enroll in Daugavpils University. Classes will include such topic areas as grammar, phonetics, conversational practice, and culture. All subjects will be taught entirely in Russian. The teacher to student ratio is typically around 6:1. Students will also have opportunities for individualized language practice.
It is highly recommended that students have completed two years of college-level Russian (or its equivalent) and have taken at least one Russian history or literature course before departure.
The director of the Daugavpils program is Dr. Jason Merrill.
For students desiring a semester or year-long stay in a Russian-speaking country, MSU is closely affiliated with programs organized by American Councils and SRAS.