Our students OF COHORT I

***NEWS****

 

The CSUN Russian Language Program finished their first cohort this summer.  Having the opportunity to learn from all four programs that started last summer, the SLI Russian Language  Program has made three unique achievements (1) going beyond the traditional cultural and literature to include current affairs and global issues, (2) connecting students' study majors with language learning, and (3) study abroad to learn the real issues surrounding the similarities and differences between American and Russian cultures. These are topics of students' end-of-summer Russian language projects which included a written paper and oral presentation: (students must cite at least one book, one journal article and a negotiable number of websites - all in Russian language): - The Siege of Leningrad - Russian mathematicians - Ballet Russe - Diaghilev - Russian organized crime - Non-renewable resources of Russia - Andrew and Alexander Fingelkurts: Twins Neuro-scientists - Stalin's impact on today's life in Russia - Olympics in Sochi - Russian-American Business/Commerce - Catherine the Great - Potemkin - Women's Role in Russian Society: Soviet  and Post-communist times For the Intervening Academic Year, students are paired with a native Russian professor or professional of their discipline: Andrew – Applied Math Major – is working with a CSU Russian native Math Professor Franky – Ph.D candidate in Geology/Geography – Minor in Russian – worked with a movie producer, a native Russian speaker – to produce a film in Russian Sarah – Undergraduate Linguistics – is working with a Fullbright Graduate from Russia – Joanne  – Religion and Women’s Studies – Grad student – is working with native Russian speaker Philosophy Professor in Religion and Women’s studies – – her goal is to work for U.N. Robyn  – Bio Major – is working with a Russian biologist working at CalTech Eliza – based on her SLI experience, received a scholarship to study for a year in St. Petersburg State University – Double major in Russia and Engineer Jane – UC Santa Barbara – Double major - Russian and Pre-Med - is working with the Russian Language Professor from UCSB

 

 

 

The CSUN SLI Russian Program has achieved a lot in a short time because of the strong administration team headed by Dean Elizabeth Say and the dedication/expertise of the SLI Russian Coordinator -  Prof Dina Mokhnatkin!  For more info, please take a look at this article: TO RUSSIA, WITH LOVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrey Corral

 

As a student at California State University Northridge, I am pursuing a B.S in Applied Mathematics as well as a minor in Russian. I have been studying Russian for four years. Last Summer, I began working in the Russian Strategic language initiative program. This SLI program has provided me with invaluable insights into the Russian language and culture. My goal relating to Russian is to be able to communicate mathematical concepts in Russian. I am currently working on a math research project with a mathematics department faculty member which will hopefully teach me more about how to describe math in Russian.

 

 

 

 

 

Elyse Corrine

 

I came from the California State University, Long Beach to the SLI Russian program at Northridge. My major is Computer Engineering with a minor in Russian Language. During the Summer intensive program I tremendously improved my Russian skills. Currently, I am a studying at the St. Petersburg State University in Russia and I plan to continue to study Russian in the SLI program.

 

 

Robyn Latimer

Major: Biochemistry.  Career objectives:  to perform medical research in a multicultural, multilingual environment, and to become fluent in communicating in Russian at a professional level.  Being multilingual has become increasingly important in our shrinking world, and having knowledge of more than one language and culture is essential for problem solving on a global scale.  Russian is a globally significant language and being an English/Russian bilingual professional will enhance opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Joanne Lucas

 

When I was in college, I decided to devote my elective courses to Russian language study. These elective units were available because I had passed the French equivalency exam upon entering college.  My interest in languages has never waned. I am currently studying Russian, French, Arabic and modern Hebrew with a view to future employment as an interpreter at the United Nations.  The Strategic Language Institute’s summer program in 2008 afforded me the thorough grammar review that I needed and greatly enhanced my speaking ability.

 

 

 

Anna Patrikian

 

 

 

Veronika Romanovskaya

 

I am a student at California State University of Northridge where I am pursuing a BS in Accountancy, a BS in Finance, and a minor in Russian. My family came from Belarus to the US in when I was seven. I understood some Russian but lost my ability to speak it within a few years. After high school I began to understand that the Russian language was an integral part of my heritage as well as a tool to pursue business ventures in the future. Los Angeles has a large Russian community and I know that being able to speak Russian will be a key means of obtaining clients if I am in the private sector or for relating to members of the Russian community if I gain work with a governmental agency. The SLI program has been a great way to further my Russian language skills in both conversational Russian and in the business environment.

 

Sarah Sluder

 

My main goal is to speak Russian fluently. I am so excited to learn the Russian language and I consider myself very lucky to pursue a passion of mine. I have always been fascinated with other cultures and I can't wait to see where my proficiency takes me. I am a Linguistics major, currently taking classes at Pasadena City College, as well as the SLI program at Cal State University Northridge. The SLI program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I am truly appreciative for the teachers and staff that work so hard with us. I want to further apply my Russian knowledge towards my career.

Franky Telles

 

Growing up in West Hollywood allowed me to sow the seeds of friendship with the Russian community. I wanted to understand the language and the culture. The Strategic Language Initiative program has been very rewarding. This past summer was challenging, but I learned a lot more about the rich Russian culture and language than I had in years. I have a M.S. in Geology and I teach part-time at the university. I am interested in energy resources and climate change. Because of my Russian skills, I will be working part-time for the U.S. Navy Oceanography program this upcoming year. I hope to one day teach and pursue a doctorate in Russia. Of course, I am one of the webmasters of this website. My year-long project is the production of a Russian film, which involves geology, culture and suspense.

 

 

 

Jane Volfson

 

I moved to the U.S. at age 7. Upon graduating high school I got accepted  and currently attend University of California, Santa Barbara I double major in Political Science and Slavic Studies. I am on the UCSB Mock Trial team, since I plan on studying law upon graduating university. I am also an international latin  ballroom dancer. In the Summer of 2008 I got accepted into the SLI program, where I spent 6 weeks studying the Russian language and grammar six hours a day, 5 days a week. My plan is to become an attorney in the Los Angeles area and accommodate the diverse community of the city.

 

 

 

Shaun Weissman

I started studying Russian when I went to high school for one and a half years in the Ukraine.  We needed to study a language (a requirement) and I wanted to study something that I could use while I was there.  Ukrainian wasn't offered, and a lot of the people in Kiev spoke Russian anyways, so I decided to take Russian.  I really enjoyed it, despite all of the difficulties and challenges that it
presented.  When I decided to study journalism here at CSUN I thought it would be a really good idea to have a second language at my disposal, so I continued it.  I've really enjoyed it despite all of the difficulties it poses me and I am really starting to find a passion for linguistics, and Russian in particular.  I am hoping that this opportunity to go to Moscow and study the language intensively will
allow me to use the language freely.  I'm also interested in the working possibilities that could be presented to me if I am able to master Russian.  The long term goal is to be able to say that I am bilingual and feel natural with both the language and the culture.

 

 

Brent Woo

When I first started taking Russian classes, I did not at all anticipate changing my academic focus completely. I entered UCLA as a Business/Economics student, but the complex grammar, foreign sounds, and beautiful words of Russian led me to the Linguistics program, which I enjoy and love. Russian has become such an irresistible part of my studies that I devote more time to it weekly than any other single class I have taken and actively participate in cultural events and conferences. The SLI program at CSU Northridge has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to study in Moscow. While there I will write my second research paper that concerns the Russian langage, and I intend to focus on the very casual register of speech employed by students and youth.