Institute of Strategic Languages and Cultures

About our Program

 

 

 

 

 

• Curriculum
• Instructors and Texts
• Fall and Spring Schedules
• Summer Institute 2008
• History and Culture Studies
• Class Schedule
• Printable Version

 

Emphasis on Communication Because all courses emphasize communication (speaking and listening comprehension) at least half the day is devoted to conversational activities. Students also spend considerable time writing and reading. Activities each day include class instruction, small group conversation, written assignments, comprehension exercises, and one-on-one assistance between instructors and students. Communicative method emphasizing accuracy The language learning approach at Russian Language Ministries is communicative, ensuring that students spend the majority of their time in conversational activities.  Experienced native speakers provide most of the instruction in conversation courses, while Americans fluent in Russian provide grammatical instruction designed to promote accurate speech patterns.  Besides general courses in Russian grammar and conversation, students also enroll in courses such as Learning to Converse; Sharing Your Faith (First semester); Russian Bible and Apologetics (Second semester); Vocabulary for Businessmen, among others.  Basic, Intermediate and Advanced level language courses are available.

Curriculum

 

The curriculum at Russian Language Ministries has several goals:

To provide missionary candidates with a strong foundation in conversational Russian, emphasizing ministry skills for communicating the gospel and for discipleship situations. 

• Russian Language Ministries provides missionaries with an intensive learning environment where they develop strong conversational skills in the areas which are most vital for their work and life in Russian-speaking countries.

For each student to attain a minimum proficiency of level 2 in reading and writing and level 2- in speaking and listening comprehension, regardless of a person's language-learning aptitude.

• Russian Language Ministries’ year-round training program is a unique language-learning environment.  Russian Language Ministries’ courses are designed to allow the student to acquire as much proficiency as possible in the shortest possible time. We endeavor to provide the student with a caring, encouraging, and challenging language-learning environment, where the most effective language-teaching methodology is utilized.
• Students are immersed in an all-Russian environment at an appropriate point in their studies, and when the course is combined with living in the Russian Cultural House, students make great strides toward fluency.

To equip students with knowledge of the historical and cultural forces which have shaped the peoples of the former Soviet Union.

• Russian Language Ministries seeks to address the critical need for missionaries to acquire a keen understanding of the Russian world view by offering additional courses and seminars covering Russian history, cultural formation, Orthodoxy, Naturalism, ministry-related issues, and other important topics.

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Instructors and Texts

Instructors include Americans fluent in Russian and native Russian instructors. It is our goal that all instructors at Russian Language Ministries hold to the highest standards of classroom instruction, teaching methodology, and personal integrity.

The primary texts include Russian for Believers by Marc T. Canner, and the Russian Bible, Synod translation. Other texts, which may be purchased separately, include a variety of conversation textbooks and other books and working aids.

Many are used to equip the students to disciple Russian speakers as well as for the study of Russian history, literature, and culture.

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Intensive Russian Program Description

 

Russian Language Ministries' intensive program is designed with the specific needs of the individual in mind.

Each student is first tested to determine their language-learning aptitude (defined as a measurement of one's natural ability to learn a language such as Russian).  Students who possess above average or high language aptitude are placed in Track I, which is our Fall 32-week accelerated course, or if in the Spring, our 24-week accelerated course (the summer session is a bit more intensive).

Those who possess average aptitude are placed in Track II, which is a different 32-week course (Fall) or 24-week course (Spring), which is designed to meet their language-learning needs at a pace which enables them to acquire the material properly.

Those who possess below average aptitude are placed in Track III, our 40-week course, which begins both Fall and Spring.  This course combines special tutoring sessions with in-class work.

The result of this system is effective and speedy language-learning regardless of one's ability.

Note: Students may come and study for a single semester or summer, if desired.

Spring, 2008 Program

Track	Date
Track I	January 21, 2008 - May 10, 2008 *
Track II	January 21, 2008 - May 10, 2008 *

*Dates and prices are subject to change

Fall, 2008 Program

Track	Date
Track I	September  2, 2008 - December 19, 2008 *
Track II	September 2, 2008 - December 19, 2008*

*Dates and prices are subject to change

 

Tuition 

Track	Cost per semester
Track I	$2550.00 *
Track II	$2550.00 *

Enrollment deposit $100.00.

Note: For those wishing to receive undergraduate or graduate credit during a Fall or Spring semester, tuition is adjusted slightly higher and is paid to Columbia International University.

The enrollment deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to tuition. Tuition is due the first day of class. Payment may be made by check or money order. Payment plans are available and may be arranged prior to enrollment. Please contact Russian Language Ministries for more information. 100% of the tuition is refundable less the enrollment deposit and the cost of materials until the second week of classes - 50% of the tuition is refundable until the end of the fourth week of classes. Tuition is non-refundable following the fourth week. 

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Summer Institute 2008

Dates:  June 9 through August 1, 2008*

In the summer, our courses are run through the Russian Language Institute of Columbia International University (CIU).  To apply for summer classes only, go to www.ciu.edu/summerstudies and click on “General Info.”  Up to six hours of graduate or eight hours of undergraduate credit can be earned by taking eight weeks of classes during the summer. 

Summer Tuition: $2,250 (8 weeks)*
Room & Board in CIU dormitories:  $1,640*
Russian Cultural House boarding (8 weeks):

• Double occupancy: $720*
• Single occupancy: $1,000*
• Married couple: $1,440*

 

* Dates and prices are subject to change. Please contact us for up to date schedules and pricing

(Other housing arrangements are available.  Please call RLM at (800)799-7976 for more information.) 

Enrollment deposit $100.00. The enrollment deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to tuition.

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History and Culture Studies

 

In addition to the language curriculum all students participate in classes and seminars devoted to the historical and cultural development of the modern Russian state. Vital aspects of Russian culture and history are explored through interesting seminars, field trips and special lectures. Students also prepare a regional field study for the specific region they are called to. Included is a survey of Russian history from the origins of Slavic peoples to the present age, various culture topics including orthodoxy, atheism,  literature & music, and many others. Students are given opportunities to make acquaintances and explore contacts with Russian students, émigrés and businessmen living in the Columbia area.

Students also gather together once per week to learn Russian praise and worship songs and learn how to pray in Russian.

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Class Schedule

Classes meet from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the summer (a slightly more intensive experience) and 8:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the fall or spring, five days per week.  A lunch break occurs before afternoon classes in the Summer, while students take lunch immediately following classes in the Fall and Spring.  On Wednesdays students begin their day at 8:30 with about two hours devoted to Russian films about culture and history.  This is followed by time participating in Russian praise and worship.  The history and culture seminars take place from 1:25 till 4:05 p.m.   

A one-week break is provided midterm during the fall and spring semesters, while a one-month break occurs between Fall and Spring semesters. For those who begin in the Spring, a two-week Field study is assigned between spring and Summer with a two-week break following. 

Up to 9 hours of graduate or 12 hours of undergraduate credit is available for each 16 week semester course through Columbia International University. Up to 6 hours of graduate and 8 hours of undergraduate credit is available for the Summer Institute.

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Printable Version

The catalog is also in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). If you will need the Adobe Reader to open or print the catalog: Open the Curriculum Description and Course Catalog. Updated for 2007-2008.

Note: If you do not have the Adobe Reader already installed, you can download the program without cost from Adobe Corporation web. Click the icon to open the Adobe web site.

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