The SRAS Newsletter
A Resource for Students, Educators, and Anyone Curious about Russia
Summer Programs Abroad: Apply ASAP!

See what awaits you this summer from SRAS! Check out our full list of summer programs! From the Russian elections to the Russian environment and from art to acting to international relations - the choice is yours!

Добро пожаловать!

What are you doing this summer? How are you going to fund it?

This issue of the SRAS newsletter is geared to help you answer both of these questions! We start with a wide listing of financial aid available for our programs and for study abroad to Russia and Eurasia in general. Then, we offer a few suggestions of innovative programs available this summer such: a summer seminar on the Russian elections; horseback trekking in Kyrgyzstan; and studying art in St. Petersburg. This summer, there is something for everyone – no matter what your specific interests are or how much Russian you currently speak.

The newsletter also, as always, offers a wide selection of this month's best online material for understanding Russian language, culture, politics, and more! До скорого!

In this month's newsletter:

- Funding      - Programs     -  Koroche! 
- Books      -  Primary Documents     - Language and Culture

- New International Program from SRAS! -

Policy and Conflict in the Post-Soviet Space All Levels – beginning to advanced Students will visit Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Russia and will discuss the conflicts in these states, both past and present, with local students, teachers, and experts. Available: Fall, Spring

Study Abroad in Russia!

- Funding for Study Abroad -  

Alumni Rewards and Student Initiatives
SRAS offers matching scholarships, group discounts, alumni scholarships, and more! Enrol with a friend and you can get special deals on group discounts this summer!

Charles Braver Language Exploration Grants
The Language Exploration Grant offers one award of $500 each for summer, fall, and spring sessions on any regular SRAS program. Apply by March 25th!

Reset Grant (Translation)
SRAS offers one $500 grant each semester to help young translators go abroad to study their craft. Apply by March 25th!

Stanislavsky Scholarship (Acting!)
As part of its Acting in Russia program, SRAS offers three $750 scholarships each summer for actors to study their art in St. Petersburg, Russia. Apply by April 30th!

Home and Abroad
$10,000 to build translation, writing, research, and language skills at home and abroad. Apply by May 10th!

Financial Aid for Study Abroad
The following is a list of every scholarship, aid, and grant program that we know of that can help fund study abroad to Russia (including those listed above!).

- Currently Open Grant and Scholarship Cycles
- Home and Abroad Internship Program
- SRAS Research Grants
- NGO Scholarship Program
- Dissertation Prize

- Your Plans for This Summer! -

SRAS Summer Programs
Below is a PARTIAL LIST of just some of the unique opportunities that await you abroad this summer. To see a full list, which includes more on international relations, environmental studies, acting, Russian folklore, several internships, and more, click here! Deadlines for the following partial list of summer programs are listed! 

Featured Summer Programs: (click here for full list!) 

Russian Studies Seminar: The Russian Elections All Levels - from beginning to advanced This intensive four-week course will detail the social forces shaping Russia's political scene and how politics may impact Russian society after the elections of 2011 and 2012.  Apply by: March 20th!

Russian as a Second Language (RSL) All Levels - from beginning to advanced Twenty hours per week of Russian language training. Individualized Russian Tutoring and Intensive Russian also available in most locations.  Apply by: Early/Full Summer: March 25th!

Mass Movements: From Protest to Revolution All Levels - from beginning to advanced What causes revolution? When does a mass movement become mass protest? When does protest evolve into revolution? Were Russia's revolutions inevitable? Find out this summer with SRAS!  Apply by: March 25th!

Kyrgyz Summer Adventure All Levels - from beginning to advanced The Kyrgyz Summer Adventure Program combines three weeks of intensive language study in Bishkek and one week of horse-trekking through rugged Central Asian mountains!  Apply by: March 31th!

Central Asian Studies All Levels - from beginning to advanced Intensive language study, courses on regional history and hands-on learning of the countries and cultures. Home stay, cultural program and educational travel included.  Apply by: March 31th!

Art and Museums in Russia All Levels - from beginning to advanced An excursion-based three-week program to teach you art history, studio art, and/or museum studies through the famed collections of St. Petersburg's museums!  Apply by: April 15th!

Acting in Russia One year acting experience required; all courses in English An intensive six-week summer course of Russian-style actor training for English-speaking actors.  Apply by: April 30th!

Eurasian Culinary Adventure Eurasian Culinary Adventure is designed to open all of your senses to the rich Russian language and the cultures and cuisines of Eurasia.   Apply by: May 1st!

- Kороче -

Top Movies in Russia
MTV's Top 5
Nashe Radio's Top 5
Russian TV Reporting

Note: Our student blogging projects such as "Cheap Eats" are currently migrating to a new site to be launched by SRAS! Check back next month for an update! 

- Language and Culture -

SRAS Student Blogging for RBTH
Russia Behind the Headlines is now featuring SRAS student Cody White as a regular blogger!

Walking Tour of Bishkek!
Our very own Peter Bourgelais takes you along on a photo tour of Bishkek! All students on our Bishkek study abroad programs are treated to this walking tour shortly after they arrive.

MiniLesson: Orthodontics - Ортодонтия
This month's minilesson take you to the Russian orthodontist!

Жил Был Пёс
This was recently named the best Russian-language cartoon of all time a group at the 17th Open Animation Festival in Suzdal, Russia. "Hedgehog in the Fog" came in second in this competition.

Выборы в США: праймериз
A video done by the US State Department to explain the primaries to Russians. Lots of good vocabulary in here!

 - How to Become Fluent in 11 Languages
- Beginner Russian - Free Resources
 - Grammatica - a complete reference for any Russian word!
- To Learn A New Language, You've Got to Move More Than Your Mouth!
- Colleges Are Urged to Try New Approaches to Diversify Study Abroad

Never Too Many Books!
The Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia	Russian Foreign Policy: The Return of Great Power Politics	Understanding Russian Politics

Study Abroad in Russia!

- Primary Docs and Other Cool Stuff -

SRAS Travel Services for Scholars

Putin's Article on Foreign Policy
In the run-up to Russia’s presidential elections, prime minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin has published his seventh article in which he defined Russia’s niche in a “changing world.”

The Great Famine
An hour-long PBS documentary on the story of the American effort to relieve starvation in 1921 Soviet Russia.

How Powerful is Russia?
What does this election mean for Russia’s relations with the United States? Indeed, how powerful is Russia, beyond its vote on the United Nations Security Council?

History of Presidential Elections in Russia
Interactive infographics from RIA Novosti.

OSCE Statement on the Russian Elections
This is the official press release from the OSCE on their official observation of Russian election fairness. Quoted in lots of Western news sources - you can read the full original here.

Portrait of the Young Vladimir Putin
The story of the once and future ruler of Russia.

Stanislavski Studies Journal
Stanislavski Studies is a unique English/Russian, peer-reviewed eJournal, presenting world-class scholarship on subjects related to the work of Konstantin Stanislavski.

Bolshoi Gorod on Election Violations
Bolshoi Gorod, one of Moscow's premier liberal newspapers, offers reports in English from observers who manned the polling stations in Russia. There are several articles - use the square icons at the bottom of the page to navigate.

How Gogol Explains the Post-Soviet World
This article attempts to examine politics in post-Soviet states through the lens of classic Russian literature.

America's Failed (Bi-Partisan) Russia Policy
This failure of our own democratic process -- particularly of our political and media establishments -- is in sharp contrast to fierce debates over Russia policy that took place in Congress, the national media, academia, think tanks and even at grassroots levels in the 1970s and 1980s.

Presidential Election 2012
Several interactive resources on the Russian presidential elections.

If you have views or material you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please contact us. Want the newsletter?