THE NEWSLETTER / MARCH, 2009       Site map

06.03.2009 The SRAS Newsletter A Resource for Students, Educators, and Anyone Curious about Russia   Understanding a foreign language can not only open a whole new world of humor, it can also help you keep you safe. If you don't understand this sign, maybe it's time to sign up for RSL.  Welcome from SRAS! This month, our newsletter is stood, so to say, on its head. While we've always included a language section in each newsletter, we've never focused on the issue of language, concentrating instead on more "актуальные вещи:" on current events and issues of business and politics. This month, we've reversed things and looked at what must form the basis of successful international political and business agreements: an understanding of the language and culture of the other party to the agreement. This is, perhaps, as "актуально" today as it's ever been. Diplomats from the USA and Russia are preparing for their first high level political talks under the Obama administration. With so much to debate on missile defense, Iran, human rights, and energy security, one has to wonder: has Hillary Clinton learned to pronounce Medvedev's name yet? While that is meant in jest, it is a situation that can clearly show the value of Russian lessons and what they can add to your career opportunities. We hope our new resources on grammar, vocabulary, listening, and comparative translation will help broaden your understanding of Russian and your professional opportunities. To subscribe to this free newsletter, send an email with "Subscribe SRAS" in the subject field to jwilson@sras.org. News and Announcements SRAS has extended its deadlines to March 15th for summer programs including Early Summer Session RSL, The Arts in Russia, Siberian Studies, Summer Work Study, and The Russian Far East. United Airlines will begin non-stop DC-Moscow flights in March and is offering discounts. March 31 Deadlines approaching for: Kyrgyz Summer Adventure, Russian Studies Summer, Intensive Russian Summer, and Late Session Summer RSL. Several job vacancies for Russian speakers have been announced including at the Eurasia Foundation, the Center for Applied Linguistics, and the Open World Program. The National Language Service Corp has launched its website and pilot program and is looking for volunteers. The Committee on College and Pre-College Russian is conducting its annual census of college/university level 1st and 2nd year Russian enrollments. If you are a teacher, please contribute your statistics. If you are student, make sure your teacher knows about the census. John Freedman's New Blog offers insight into Russian theatre from one of English-speaking world's most respected authorities on the subject. News From The Eastern Blog is a new offering from two foreign girls studying at MGIMO. InterCom, a weekly e-mail digest for language teachers that you customize so that you receive only the content that you are interested in. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Обзоры: Learn About Russia and Eurasia through the News These news reviews strive to paint an accurate and balanced picture of life in Russia and to deliver information on important events affecting Eurasia. Find events in: UK, 2; SW; AZ; CA, 2; CO; DC, 2, 3; DE;  HI; IL, 2, 3, 4; IN; KS; MA, 2, 3; MI;  NC, 2, 3; NJ; NY, 2, 3, 4, 5; OH, 2; PA, 2 More Events Russian Society Religion, media, history, education, and more.                                                            How the News is Reported in Russia The New York Times thought Obama's "secret letter" to Medvedev was scandalous. What did Russia's media think?                                              News from Eurasia Financial crisis in Eurasia; OSCE leaves Georgia; Georgia's report on the 5-Day War; Kyrgyzstan hit by DOS attack.                                Russian Business and Economy The financial crisis, banking and debt, labor, specific sectors.                                 Domestic Politics Politicians, political parties, the opposition, and legislation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation Studies: Yasnaya Polyana If translation inevitably changes a text, how well do we really know the literature of Tolstoy? In this new resource, we pit two short translations of Yasnaya Polyana's history against each other to show how and why two translations of one text can differ substantially. Includes essay questions for classroom use.   SRAS Student Shown on Russian News!   (streaming video) David Marcus, a visiting scholar with SRAS studying Nanai language and culture in Siberia was recently featured on the local news in Khabarovsk. Watch the video and read a side-by-side translation of the transcript prepared by SRAS. Olga's Blog: Национальная страсть This month, we bring you the long-awaited part II of Olga's tales and description of one of Russia's oldest and dearest traditions - mushroom picking! Plus, expand your Russian vocabulary and learn about Russian conjunctions. По грамматике! (PDF, 367K) Our Image of the Month is a grammar-building lesson this month. Find out why imports are worrying Russians and, at the same time, find out how to better use the preposition "по."  Dismissal – Увольнение  As millions of Russians join the world's growing numbers of unemployed, this month's Russian Mini-Lesson explains layoffs, benefits, and unemployment in Russia. Кулинарная академия (streaming video) Кулинарная академия, or "Culinary Academy" is a new educational kid's show, where kids meet with a professional chef who slowly and clearly talks them through preparation techniques, the history of dishes and ingredients, and more. Every episode is online in high-quality streaming video. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Late Summer Session RSL! Beginning this July, take six weeks of Russian language and stay within your budget! Available in in Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Bishkek, Moscow or St. Petersburg. Cultural Tour of Russia Eat a home-cooked meal with Russians in their home. Create traditional painted porcelain under a Russian master. Sit in banyas and celebrate life with Russians who will show you how to sing, make toasts, relax, and laugh. SRAS has a full range of study programs. Click here! Scholarships and Grants Thousands of dollars available for study abroad. New Program: Politics and Oil Starting in the fall of 2009, The School of Russian and Asian Studies, in partnership with The Moscow State Institute of International Relations will present a new program examining politics, international trade, world economies, and Russian energy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Russia's Neighbors and Russia's Energy The Russian Analytical Digest recently published two new issues (#56, 55) that focus on Russian energy and Russia's foreign relations. See as well its sister publication, the Caucasus Analytical Digest for an issue on Caucasus energy and foreign relations. Economy, Politics, and Society  (PDF, 180K) This latest installment of Policy Matters, a free publication from PBN, gives a succinct, fact-heavy, objective overview of Russian political and economic developments since the New Year. The Six Pillars of Russian Strength Russia is yet again on the cusp of a set of massive currency devaluations that could destroy much of the country’s financial system. Many Western countries have started to grow complacent about Russia’s ability to further project power abroad. But this is Russia. And Russia rarely follows anyone else’s rulebook. NGOs and Power Ministries in Russia  The Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet States in it's latest publication takes a look at the relationship NGOs have with those ministries. Crimea Scene Investigation  A five-part series from Slate looking at Ukraine-Russia relations and how the Crimea might become a literal or figurative battleground. If you have views or material you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please contact us. To subscribe to this free newsletter, send an email with "Subscribe SRAS" in the subject field to jwilson@sras.org. « back to newsletters archive print this page email this page