Study Abroad Programs in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Overall, the Middlebury Russian Intensive Language Program in Astana is well-organized and designed to help students improve their Russian. They provide a variety of different course subjects, including Russian grammar. The professors test our knowledge and give us opportunities to practice the language through various mediums such as: presentations, group work, writing tests, and reading and watching movies (as homework) then discussing them in class. Not only this, but the professors are extremely knowledgeable about their topics. They often encourage questions, and will gladly repeat themselves if need be. Shout out to Professor Yuliya K! I particularly enjoyed the information I learned in this class, and how she uses her substantive knowledge of Russian literature and culture to help us understand texts in ways we would have never thought of before.

I really enjoyed this program! I got to explore Kazakhstan, take interesting classes, and learn independence all while being fully immersed in the Russian Language. Going into this program, I already had an intermediate understanding of the Russian language, but I wanted to learn more about the Russian-speaking world. I found that Kazakhstan — typically unexplored by the average American study-abroad student —and, in particular, the program with Middlebury, were well-suited to my academic and personal goals. I got to work intimately with Kazakh students, learn about a previously unexplored culture, all while eating good food, celebrating important Kazakh holidays, and viewing breathtaking architecture (attached). For Russian-speaking students interested in furthering their academic career and being fully immersed, consider the program in Astana!

Just got blessed by God through my mom and uncle for telling me about your program and making me apply I wasn't sure neither was I feeling lucky but I kept my hopes up till I see the end of it and I hope it really the best of my life

The American Council ERLP program that I participated in was an excellent program. The program offered me one on one instruction from Persian teachers. This personalized instruction allowed me to maintain my own pace of learning and allowed me to advance better than I had previously. The program personnel in both Tajikistan and Washington D.C. were top of the line and extremely helpful with any problems that arose. When I was forced to return to the United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic the program personnel worked with me to establish an online learning schedule so that I could finish my semester. The host family that I had were very generous and kind and provided me with everything I needed. The only drawback I found in the program was that I did not get a strong immersion into the language due to the fact that most people in the nation spoke Russian. Overall the American Council ERLP program was a well put together and successful program that I would definitely recommend to others.

I studied Uzbek with ERLP in Fall 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program took place virtually. I was on the part-time track, which meant that I studied the language for 6 hours per week. Each week, 2 additional hours were dedicated to conversation lessons and virtual cultural activities. The classes are very individualized -- I was the only student in my class. This one-on-one instruction greatly improved my Uzbek in just a short time period. I came in with zero knowledge of the language and placed at the intermediate-mid level by the end of the program. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning Central Asian languages such as Uzbek and Tajiki.

In 2020, the Russian Area Studies and Language Program (RLASP) was held virtually, and despite the challenges of being stuck at home the program was a tremendous opportunity to continue developing my Russian language skills. The program perfectly centered on the right balance of rigor and fun, and I easily bonded with my professors and cohort despite learning virtually. RLASP allowed me to learn more about advanced grammar topics and new vocabulary, while continuing to work on more fundamental aspects like phonetics. The presence of courses in geography, history/politics, culture, and cinema allowed me use my Russian "in practice" while exploring more technical vocabulary. I would highly recommend the program to any learner of Russian, but especially intermediate students who are ready to make the jump to a more advanced level of understanding and proficiency in the language.

I quite enjoyed the 8 weeks I had spent in the American Councils RLASP learning about the Russian language and culture. I had never previously been a part of an intensive language program and as such I was quite excited and nervous to partake in this virtual-learning study abroad experience. Through this experience I was able to learn a vast amount pertaining to Russia’s language, culture, and people. I quite enjoyed learning more about the Russian language and its complexities such as verbs of motion and when to use imperfective and perfective forms of a verb. I also enjoyed learning about the beauty and complexity of Russian art and literature. One of my favorite classes was “Искусство и культура современной России” and I also enjoyed analyzing the cartoon "Бабочка". Overall, having partaken in the vigor and diversity of this program I developed new and better ways to express myself in Russian and really feel that my confidence when speaking Russian is boosted. Moreover, having been a part of this program and having learnt so much about the Russian language and culture, I have decided to also continue my studies of Russian at my university by enrolling in 4 additional courses which detailed aspects of Russian history and literature.

I had a great experience with American Councils. They overhauled their entire program a matter of months to fit the needs of their students, and while I only took it as a refresher course since I was unable to go to Russia for the summer, I enjoyed my time with their instructors and the AC staff.

I studied abroad with RLASP in Moscow during the Spring 2020 Semester (so right during the time when covid took over). Before covid really hit, I definitely enjoyed all aspects of the program. Mind you, I was pretty much a beginner in Russian prior to leaving and I felt anxious about the academic workload. Most of my peers had over 3-4 semesters of Russian under their belt, so I definitely felt self-conscious about my ability to truly succeed. However, you take a placement test when you arrive and the professors split you up into groups and completely tailor the curriculum according to your needs. I could barely say anything beyond planned phrases prior to leaving the US but left having conversations about Russian poetry and film. Most professors are very patient and push you to do well and speak. The classes themselves are super interesting and, in my group, we more or less directed the conversation. If we wanted to talk about climate change or American politics one day in our Russian Internet class, we did just that. We also had weekly excursions to different museums and landmarks that were held in Russian. The difficulty varied depending on the excursion. I have no real complaints about housing. Most hosts were in the 70s-80s and pretty much kept to themselves most of the time, which was fine with me. However, if you want more "active" hosts, put that in your housing form. And be prepared to travel for at least an hour to get to school. I had to do a lot of walking and train transfers, but it was doable (albeit tiring). Try looking at all possible routes you could take before you start school. I only realized midway into the semester that one bus would take me all the way there (and it was only 3 minutes from my house). When covid hit, we all had to go back to the US and so we continued with an online format. While it took us about a week or two to work out the kinks, I ended getting a lot of out the online format, if not more, since my concentration was completely focused on lecture and I didn't have the opportunity to really drift off. While programs may be online for the next foreseeable semesters, don't worry about not progressing in your language abilities. In some ways, you might be benefit more from an online format than you would originally think. The American Councils staff and Resident Director are incredibly resourceful and are there to help, while also allowing you that independence. They won't hold your hand throughout the process since living in Russia can be a learning curve, but they will help you along the way when you need it.

My goal for 2020 was to learn Tajiki, a dialect of Persian spoken in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. I heard about ERLP when working with American Councils and decided to apply because of a colleague's recommendation. Because of the coronavirus, the program was conducted online. While I was completing the application, the staff at American Councils responded to my questions promptly and thoroughly. I was awarded a Title VIII scholarship. Every weekday, I had two hours of classes. Every Tuesday and Saturday, I had cultural activities. Each week, I talked with a conversation partner for two hours. The academics were incredible. My classes were small, just my teacher and myself. The teacher conducts the entire class in Tajiki. At the beginning of the program, my Tajiki was at a beginner's level; I knew a couple of phrases after living in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. After eight weeks, my Tajiki was at an intermediate level. American Councils did an incredible job, adapting to the new format. Problems were solved promptly. The staff was always in contact and listened to feedback.

I had a fantastic experience on the American Councils RLASP program even with the disruption caused by the COVID pandemic. This program gave me a solid foundation of academic instruction while leaving me the latitude and freedom to explore and interact with the environment and culture in which I was studying. The course of study was rigorous and fast paced but still gave me plenty of time to actually explore the city where I was studying (Moscow) and concentrate on developing my speech through interactions with locals. I am extremely grateful for their expertise in matching students to extracurricular activities such as internships which I found to be hugely valuable for developing career relevant skills as a researcher and introducing me to colleagues in the Russian historical profession and their approaches to the work of historians. My hat is off to the support staff both in Moscow and D.C. who did their best to keep us updated with timely information and bent over backwards to move the program into an effective online format when we were recalled to the U.S. during the middle of the Spring term. I would happily study with this program again.

Going to Moscow was the first time I ever went abroad, and to say I was nervous is an understatement. However, once I attended the pre-departure orientation in DC, I was immediately put at ease. American Councils was there for me every step of the way as I immersed myself in Russian culture and adapted to my new way of life. Jon, the resident director, was always available if we needed him, but encouraged us to explore and create our own unique memories and experiences. With that being said, I took advantage of everyday I had in Moscow. I made new friends, tried new foods, and attended cultural events and festivals. Moscow is such an amazing city with such a rich history, and somedays were so amazing that they felt like a dream. My favorite memory I have is ice skating on the Red Square at night with all of the New Years decorations up. It was honestly so surreal. American Councils provided us with the best instructors, excursions, conversation partners, and host families in order to help me and my peers reach our full potential. If you have any desire to study abroad in Russia, I would highly recommend applying for the RLASP program. I will never forget the people I met and the adventures I had in Moscow!

I studied abroad through American Councils in Fall 2019 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I am so glad that I decided to study abroad in Russia through American Councils. The language gain and cultural immersion aspect of this program sets it apart from other study abroad programs. I also really enjoyed living with a host family. This allowed me to live everyday life speaking Russian more than I ever could studying Russian in America. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in a full immersion Russian study abroad experience!

I'll always remember my time in Moscow as one of the most formative times of my life. I learned so much about Russian language and culture, from my classes, my host family, the cultural excursions, and just from experiencing the beautiful Russian summer. I gained so much confidence with the language and in myself. The academics were challenging, as was the adjustment to living in Russia, but I had plenty of time to explore after classes and on the weekends. Life in Moscow is fast-paced but navigable. There's always something happening, from concerts to festivals, especially in the summer, and the RLASP program let me experience that to the fullest. I miss Moscow and I miss the program. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

This is a fantastic program that I would recommend to others in an instant! Everything was great, and all aspects were well taken care of and arranged, but I still had enough freedom and "problem-solving" opportunities (just a given when living in a new country) that I felt that I grew from the experience. Overall, two big thumbs up!