Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive (SLI)

We highly recommend that students participate in an immersive summer language program before entering the Smolny College semester program.  There are many programs to choose from, both in Russia and the United States.  We encourage you to consider enrolling in the Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive (SLI) program.  Both four and eight week programs are offered.

• Academic Program
• The Immersion Experience
• Sample Daily Schedule
• Program Dates
• Program Costs
• Scholarships
• How to Apply
• For More Information
• Download the SLI Brochure (PDF)

Academic Program

The Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive (SLI) provides challenging courses for students who have completed between two and six semesters of college-level Russian, or its equivalent.* A short assessment is used to gauge your level at the time of application.  Students can choose to enroll for 4 or 8 weeks.  The 4-week program focuses on solidifying language concepts already covered while improving language skills; the 8-week program is the equivalent of one year of Russian at a North American institution and covers text such as V Puti, Grammatika V Kontekste, and Advanced Russian through History.

The SLI is intensive, with 22 hours of class per week, daily quizzes and written assignments, and weekly tests.  Class sizes are small (typically 8-10 students) with coursework emphasizing vocabulary acquisition, grammar, reading, and writing, as well as speaking and listening comprehension. Language is taught in conjunction with our cultural program, which integrates academic experience with a real feel for the city of St. Petersburg.

Coursework for upper-level students includes a thematic workshop that focuses on language learning through content-specific instruction.  Past workshops have included Russian politics, literature, and art history.

Upon successful completion of the program students receive a transcript from Bard College.  Students participating in the 4-week program earn 4 credits; students in the 8-week program earn 8 credits.  Please check with your home institution prior to enrolling in the program in order to ensure that credits issues from Bard for SLI will transfer.

*Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate heritage speakers or students with advanced language skills (7+ semesters of college-level Russian).

The Immersion Experience

The Bard-Smolny Summer Language Intensive (SLI) strives to provide participants with a total immersion experience:

• A Russian-only policy at Smolny and during cultural excursions
• Interaction with Russian students working as peer tutors
• “Russian Table” lunch with instructors, classmates, and peer tutors
• Homework sessions with faculty and tutors for extra help or conversation practice
• Excursions to St. Petersburg’s world-renowned cultural sites such as the Hermitage and the Mariinsky Theater
• Participation in either our Russian choir or theater program
• Home-stays with Russian families

Sample Daily Schedule

The cultural program includes visits to St. Petersburg’s incomparable museums, performances, and palaces, as well as a trip to an historic town in northwestern Russia.

Program Dates

• The 4-week program typically runs from mid-June through mid-July.

• The 8-week program is generally offered from mid-June through early-August.

• All participants travel together to St. Petersburg from New York on a group flight and participate in a one-day orientation upon arrival.

• Actual program dates vary slightly from year to year. 

Program Fee

The program fee will depend on whether you enroll in the 4- or 8-week program and will vary from year to year.

*The program fee includes a group flight from New York to St. Petersburg, program orientation, academic instruction, course materials, daily peer tutoring and Russian table lunches, health insurance, Russian visa expenses, accommodation and board with a host family, extra-curricular activities and our extensive cultural program.

**Personal expenses will vary. Students’ main expenses include but are not limited to: international telephone calls, cost of cellular phone calls (cell phone is provided), entertainment, etc.

Scholarships

Bard College has limited scholarships available for students demonstrating need.  Students requesting financial aid should include a copy of their FAFSA report and their home institution’s financial aid award letter for the current academic year with their application.

Application deadline = March 1st, 2010

Click here for SLI application information

For More Information

Please contact us at the Institute for International Liberal Education at Bard College for more information or with any questions.