MSU "Russian in Russia" Program Questions.
I am thinking of enrolling for 7 weeks at the Moscow State University "Russian in Russia" program this summer. Here's a link to the program:
http://www.ruslanguage.ru/
Has anyone been part of this program before? Offer any advice? Is it a good program?
Also, any suggestions as to how I can fill my days when not in class? It's quite a long stay, after all. I spent a couple of weeks in Moscow and St. Petersburg last Summer and had a great time, but I'm wondering if having my only responsibility be a few hours of language classes a day is going to wear on me. Does 7 weeks seem like a good amount of time for these classes? Any suggestions at all would be much appreciated! Thanks.
Re: MSU "Russian in Russia" Program Questions.
I can't offer you any direct personal experience, but a friend of mine - a French girl with reasonably good Russian - informs me that they are in it for the money, can't cater to non-beginners and will dump you in whichever group has the fewest students, regardless of your own level upon arrival. But, then again, she does tend to exaggerate her grievances.
Have you considered the Pushkin? I took a (very) few classes there last September and found them very decent. It strikes me that, unlike http://www.ruslanguage.ru - which is, by the way, apparently only affiliated to MGU - the Institute is sufficiently well known and well established to make the risk of parting with large sums of money one worth taking.
http://www.pushkin.edu.ru/english/index.html
Hope that helps.
Re: MSU "Russian in Russia" Program Questions.
I went one month russian course in Pushin Institute. I advise you to study russian at home before going such a course. I think its not useful for beginners and it is not a place to learn grammer. But it helps you , really too much for the pronouncation. There you understand how -o - , - e- letters are important while speaking with a russian.
There are rooms for 4 people and for singles. If you are alone, it is better to choose single room.
If I have chance , I will go to Pushkin Institute again. Courses finish at noon time, so you have time to go to everywhere in Moscow by monthly metro ticket , which you can use it at buses too.