News & Events in Russian Studies
George Mason students will have two opportunities this year to visit the great cities of East Central Europe this year. Professor Mills Kelly of the Department of History and Art History is leading a winter and a spring break study tour to the region. The first tour, from January 5-20, visits Prague, Vienna, and Budapest--the three greatest cities of East Central Europe. This tour is a three-credit course focusing on the intersection of national identity and public space in each city. Students will have the opportunity to explore these cities, their history, and their culture, while earning three credits in an exciting environment. The spring break tour visits Prague and Dresden, two of the epicenters of the popular uprising against Communism in 1989. Over the seven days of spring break students can earn one credit while learning more about the revolutions of 1989 in the places where they happened. To find out more about these tours contact Professor Kelly at tkelly7@gmu.edu <mailto:tkelly7@gmu.edu> or the Center for Global Education: http://globaled.gmu.edu/.
Spring Break Tour to Russia!!! March 10-18, 2007
5.18.06: Russian Studies Celebrates Convocation 2006
Congratulations to all our majors for another excellent academic year. In particular, we would like to recognize Ashley Kesner and Thomas Jordan, who received the Excellence in Russian Studies award.
We celebrated our graduates at a reception in the concourse of the Patriot Center following the College of Arts and Sciences' convocation ceremony Thursday, May 18, 2006, at 1 pm.
4.21.06: Russian Studies Hosts Olympiada of Spoken Russian Apr 21
On April 21, 2006, the Russian Studies program will host the Olympiada of Spoken Russian, a secondary school initiative sponsored by the American Councils for International Education: ACTR-ACCELS.
"The Olympiada draws on the long-established tradition of oral exams and open competitions within the Russian educational system, and provides a forum for American high school students of Russian to demonstrate their expertise in speaking Russian by competing in competitions before judges, mostly secondary school teachers, university professors, and other Russian experts," said Jim Levine, director of the Russian Studies program. "Just as in the Olympic sports competitions, students may earn gold, silver, or bronze medals for demonstrating proficiency at their level of study."
The Olympiada is held every year in different regions of the United States. Levine expects more than 200 secondary school students and 65 middle school students to participate. Finalists in each regional competition will be invited to participate in the summer 2006 Olympiada Study Abroad Program in Vladimir, Russia, where they will live with Russian host families, attend intensive Russian language classes, and listen to lectures on the history, literature, and culture of Russia.
The Olympiada is being sponsored with help from the Russian Club, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, and the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's Office.