Thread: Best school to major in Russian?

I just wanted people's opinion of what is the best college in America for a degree in Russian.Thx

linguistics, literature, narrower subjects like poesy? BA, MA, PhD level? Did you search google?

I'm looking to get atleast a Bachelors degree in a Russian Language degree

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Why do you feel the need to nitpick something so insignificant in such a nasty manner when the guy was asking a simple question? No manners...

Originally Posted by muzzy

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Why do you feel the need to nitpick something so insignificant in such a nasty manner when the guy was asking a simple question? No manners...

+1

To answer the poster's question. I wouldn't study Russian in the US :P The American Major / Minor system doesn't devote enough time to the language itself. It'd be better to study in the UK or somewhere, where if you study Russian, all you do is Russian language, culture, history, etc and nothing else. We've had affiliate students from America study at our university in England and third year US students of Russian are always put in with second year students and still their Russian is dire.
If you compare that with say, American Maths students, they are generally of equal ability to (if not better than) their British counterparts in the same year of study.

I think the University of Michigan, or whatever it's called, has a big Slavic studies centre, you could look into that. Basically try and find out where had a large Slavic studies department, those universtities will have good Russian courses.

Originally Posted by muzzy

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Why do you feel the need to nitpick something so insignificant in such a nasty manner when the guy was asking a simple question? No manners...

1. Is it a guy?
2. Is the question really that simple?
3. Is the mistake really that insignificant?

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Originally Posted by muzzy

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Why do you feel the need to nitpick something so insignificant in such a nasty manner when the guy was asking a simple question? No manners...

1. Is it a guy?
2. Is the question really that simple?
3. Is the mistake really that insignificant?

1. You're being pedantic again, it doesn't matter if it's a guy or not.
2. The question is quite simple, the chances are that someone on this forum has studied Russian at univeristy and if you study at one university you often know the reputations of other universities teaching the same subject.
3. Does it matter if they made a couple of mistakes, it is clear what they are asking.

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Originally Posted by muzzy

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

Why do you feel the need to nitpick something so insignificant in such a nasty manner when the guy was asking a simple question? No manners...

1. Is it a guy?
2. Is the question really that simple?
3. Is the mistake really that insignificant?

I'm not interested in petty argument. I just thought you could have been a little kinder to someone asking for help.

The University of Toronto (Toronto, ON, Canada) has an EXCELLENT Slavic studies program, with lots of exchange and summer programs in various Eastern European countries. I can vouch for that, they have one of the BEST Slavic programs in North America. I'm studying Russian there and I do not regret it one bit.

Here is the department's list: http://www.utoronto.ca/slavic/

And here's the list of languages and the programs and courses associated with them: http://www.utoronto.ca/slavic/language/index.html (click on Russian on the right).

If you have any question please don't hesitate to ask. I'll be more than happy to help.

I didn't go to university to study Russian, so I might not have a complete picture, but I did know university students majoring in Russian, and I have to say, it's probably a waste of time and definitely a waste of money to enroll in a four-year bachelor's degree program if all you want is to learn Russian. After four years and tens of thousands of dollars, you probably won't speak Russian really well. At American universities, at least, you just don't spend enough time learning what you need to know.

I understand that you might need a degree, so that's a factor. What I suggest is to do what I did. Study Russian in Russia or Ukraine for a year. It's a lot easier than you might think. Well, I take that back, there's a huge culture shock, but don't worry, it's good for you. It's also not at all expensive.

I went in the summer of 2000, spent a couple of months getting settled, and then enrolled at a local university in their preparatory course for foreign students. It cost $1000 for the whole year, and that included a domitory room and a student visa. I didn't use the room, I just rented an apartment. I'm sure costs have gone up since then, but I'm sure you could do the whole thing for a fraction of the cost of a year at an American university. It's total immersion. Your teacher probably won't speak any English (none of my *four* teachers did) and I effectively had private tutors for the entire term. They tend to group nationalities together, and I was the only American, so I had the classroom and teacher to myself for 4.5 hours a day, six days a week for nine months. You'll make friends really fast, so you'll be able to practice talking every day.

Anyway, the upshot is that afterwards I knew Russian way better than any of the four-year college graduates that I knew, and I had spent a fraction of the time and money. Plus, I had had an unforgetable experience.

If you decide you can't do something like that on your own, definitely choose a school that has an exchange program -- you have to immerse yourself in the language in order to really progress.

Yes, I think Matroskin Kot has a good point. Look for schools with a year-abroad program. I don't know whether they have the first year abroad. But you never know. I am not current on Russian department ratings, but I know where you could find out. Subscribe to the SEELANGS listserv and ask your question there. Its population is mostly teachers of Russian (not me) at US universities. http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/~seelangs/

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

This answer does NOT contribute at all with what the OP was asking. Such a mistake could also be a typo. I'm glad other posters answered the original question showing a good level and education.

This is a program in Russian literature if that's what you're looking for: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/russian/index.html

C

[quote=Cesar]

Originally Posted by xRoosterx

Maybe you at_ least need to properly learn the English language first.

This answer does NOT contribute at all with what the OP was asking. Such a mistake could also be a typo. I'm glad other posters answered the original question showing a good level and education.

This is a program in Russian literature if that's what you're looking for: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/russian/index.html

C

Thanks for all the help. I got accepted to Middlebury and Cornell, which I heard would be great schools to attend to learn Russian but I knew my people on masterrussian would give me great advice.thx

Is there an age restriction to attending a University program in Ukraine, (or Russia)??? I am 55 yrs. of age.......

Originally Posted by Haksaw

Is there an age restriction to attending a University program in Ukraine, (or Russia)??? I am 55 yrs. of age.......

I doubt it; you just have to ask. Actually, later on a heard about an American doctor who came to work with the hospitals and got a deal much like mine, except only two hours a day. I don't know how old he was, but he looked about 45-50.

They'll make whatever rule you like if you're offering cold cash.