Learn Russian in the EU

Russian language and communication skills:

Full immersion training opportunities

in the territory of the European Union

Sergey Simonov

Chairman of the Management Board

LatInSoft SIA

Daugavpils, Latvia

www.learnrussianineu.com © 2009-2012, LatInSoft SIA. All rights reserved.

2

Learn Russian in the EU

Introduction Background and mission

Project highlights

Course details

Who we are

3

LatInSoft SIA is a Latvian private company, specializing in business

management software development, IT infrastructure solutions,

professional training and vocational education:

Founded in 1991, Daugavpils

Member of BSA Latvia, LIKTA

Training Center LatInSoft – state accredited education institution

ISO 9001:2008 certified company

What we offer

4

Essence of our project

• Full immersion Russian language and communication skills proficiency improvement courses in the European Union

The project features

• The project takes advantage of the unique ethnical and cultural background of Daugavpils region

We will highly appreciate your support

• Please promote the project to government agencies, language schools, educational institutions, businesses, NGOs in your country

5

Learn Russian in the EU

Introduction Background and mission

Project highlights

Course details

Unique place

6

Daugavpils is a unique place – a Russian linguistic

enclave at the territory of the European Union.

Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia, where

105 000 people live

53% of the population are ethnic Russians;

80% of the population speak Russian as their

first language;

96% of the population speak Russian fluently;

Russian is the language of everyday

communication.

Daugavpils is "the most Russian" town in Latvia and

in the entire European Union and NATO.

LatInSoft competences

7

Professional training,

skill improvement

Business software

development

Project mission

8

Unique place –

the most Russian

town in the EU

LatInSoft

training experience

Full immersion Russian courses

in the European Union

9

Learn Russian in the EU

Introduction Background and mission

Project highlights

Course details

Target customers

10

Professionals and teams

• Enhancing practical communication skills in Russian.

Government training institutions

• Full immersion language proficiency improvement and cultural training for officers and support personnel of foreign affairs, defense, customs, police.

Businesses

• Business communication and cultural training for successful relationships with Russian-speaking customers, suppliers and partners.

Non-government organizations

• Bridging East and West, cross-cultural network development.

Universities and educational institutions

• Full immersion intensive language practice for students and teachers, refresher courses for Russian language teachers.

Courses we offer

11

General Russian Course

Russian for professional communication

Refresher courses for non-native Russian language teachers

Individual one-to-one courses

Fully-tailored project groups

Course tailoring

12

Implementation monitoring

Daily feedback from students Instant adjustments

Study and social program finalized

Individual goals and wishes Placement test, preliminary interviews, fine tuning

Program details negotiation

Objectives, budget, specific requests Detailed program, cost finalized

Draft program development

Customer application General proposal

Customer Training center

Exclusive program for each customer

13

Russian-speaking environment

High quality of teaching

Enthusiastic teachers

Course tailoring for each group

Stay with a Russian-speaking host family

Our major advantages

Why Learn Russian in the EU?

Why Learn Russian in the EU?

14

Unique ethnical, cultural, religious diversity

Comfort, service and safety of a European town

No visas required for citizens of many countries

Even better than in Russia

What our students say

15

“I have worked with many different Russian language training

programs in Russia, Ukraine, and Estonia during the past eleven years.

Your program is one of the very best I have seen. You and your staff

have superior organizational skills, constantly strove to make sure that

the needs of each student were met, and provided our group with

interesting and supportive families.

I was pleasantly surprised by the city of Daugavpils. Not only is it

thoroughly “Russian” in character, the city is clean, friendly, and safe. I

would strongly recommend your school and Daugavpils to anyone who

either wants to begin learning Russian for the first time, or who would

like a true Russian immersion experience in order to perfect their

skills.”

- Wayne M.

What our students say

16

(continued)

“I think if anyone wants to learn Russian language and at the same

time wants to live an unforgettable experience, then Daugavpils is the

ideal city!

The school is a gem: the teachers are very competent, professional

and very attentive to the needs of the students and are ready to settle

any questions of the student. Personally, I spent 3 weeks that I would

call - without exaggerating - memorable and I am sure that next year I

will come back again.”

- Piero Q.

17

Learn Russian in the EU

Introduction Background and mission

Project highlights

Course details

I. General Russian Course

18

Full immersion: versatile and creative classroom activities are reinforced by unique

host family experience, excursions and out-of-class cultural program.

Class levels Elementary, Pre-intermediate (A1-B1)

Course length 1- 5 weeks

Course tailoring The program is designed according to student’s language level, wishes and

expectations.

The course may be tailored according to TRKI, NATO STANAG 6001

standard or USA Interagency Roundtable Standard requirements, DLPT

tests.

Teachers • Language specialists

• Native speakers as communication partners (for certain exercises)

Out-of-class activities • Workday and weekend sightseeing tours

• Individual practical homework assignments (at a bank, store, real

estate agency, etc.)

Special features Total language immersion (classes + out-of-class activities + native host

family).

I. General Russian Course

19

(continued)

The course encourages students to think and speak Russian all the time:

Learn how to get necessary information by talking to a person (including telephone conversations) or from a written source

Learn how to explain themselves in a variety of real life situations, discuss things and share ideas in Russian easily

Extend their vocabulary by learning essential Russian words and phrases with the focus on the vocabulary needed

Perfect accent by listening to native Russian speakers

II. Russian for professional

communication

20

Unique combination of language studies and business training. The course

focuses on business communication skills development in a Russian-speaking

environment.

Class levels Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced (A2 – B2)

Course length 1 - 3 weeks

Course tailoring The program is designed according to participants’ initial language level and

business/organizational needs.

The course may be tailored according to NATO STANAG 6001 standard or

USA Interagency Roundtable Standard requirements, DLPT tests.

Teachers • Language specialists

• Business coach

• Local businessmen as invited speakers and communication partners

Out-of-class activities • Practical case study (local business practices)

• Workday and weekend sightseeing tours

Special features • Videotaping of the participants with further analysis

• Total language immersion (classes + out-of-class activities + native

host family)

II. Business communication in

Russian

21

(continued)

Developing business communication skills for business executives and

professionals in the shortest time possible:

Sector-specific vocabulary

Letter, telephone, report, and e-mail skills in Russian

Make presentations, prepare meetings with Russian partners

Dealing with numerical data

Dealing with colleagues, informal communication with people

Sales, negotiation skills, cultural awareness

III. Courses for teachers

22

Our refresher courses for non-native Russian language teachers help them learn new methods of teaching, share their best practice, as well as upgrade their own communication skills in an authentic language environment.

Skills level Professional, experience in teaching Russian language

The course Applying Interactive Methods for Teaching Russian Language (5 days)

More study programs By 2013 we plan to introduce more refresher programs for teachers. We can develop a specific course for a group of teachers upon request.

Our teachers • Teachers of Russian as a foreign language, teacher trainers

• Philologists, historians

• Specialists in methodology of teaching

Special advantages • Open lessons in local Polish and Latvian schools where Russian is taught as a foreign language

• Participants can apply for funding, covering the costs of the course, accommodation and travel, through the EU Lifelong Learning Program’s (LLP) Grundtvig or Comenius grants.

Students’ life: host family

23

Majority of our students agreed this was one of the essential parts of the program.

It was in the families where the students received a great deal of their conversational practice.

A private room in a carefully selected local Russian family, where a friendly atmosphere allows a student to use Russian in a relaxed and natural way.

The students will be encouraged to take full advantage of communication with their host family members and participate in their daily activities.

Students’ life: Daugavpils

24

More facts about Daugavpils:

Founded as Dinaburg castle by Livonian knights in 1275

Daugavpils has changed several names throughout its history: Dinaburg (1275), Borisoglebsk (1656-1667), Dvinsk (1893-1920), Daugavpils (since 1920).

Daugavpils has the biggest number of Russian Old-Believer’s churches in the world.

Dinaburg fortress was built in the 19th century and remained unchanged.

Daugavpils is the birthplace of the greatest Latvian poet Janis Rainis, world famous painter Mark Rothko, and actor Solomon Mikhoels.

Daugavpils region inherited remarkable ethnical, confessional, and cultural diversity. Largest historical communities – Russian, Latvian, Latgalian, Jewish, Polish, Byelorussian, Gypsy.

Students’ life: Daugavpils

25

Daugavpils is the hometown of Mark Rothko

World famous abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko was born in

Dvinsk (now – Daugavpils) in 1903.

Mark Rothko's biographers note that impressions and experiences he

brought from his life in Dvinsk, as well as his deep knowledge of Russian

classic literature and Russian language had greatly influenced his

personality and creativity.

One of workday excursions, proposed to our students, includes visit to

Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum and Mark Rothko's exposition.

In the near future Mark Rothko's Art Center is going to be open in

historical Dinaburg Fortress’ Arsenal building. The Art Center will receive

several originals by Rothko for future expositions.

Russian communication and cultural immersion

in Mark Rothko's hometown is

an outstanding and unforgettable experience.

Students’ life: social program

26

Welcome to Daugavpils tour

Daugavpils churches as symbols of history and diversity

Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum and Dinaburg fortress

Russian banya

Our social program aims at introducing students to ethnical,

historical and cultural diversity of Daugavpils. This includes short

trips during working days as well as full-day trips on weekends.

Sample workday excursions:

Students’ life: social program

27

Basilica of Aglona, Museum of World War II and Museum of Bread in Aglona

Riga – the capital of Latvia.

Old Town, Jugendstil architecture, Jurmala sea resort (2 days)

Ligo – the most beloved national holiday in Latvia (2 days)

Rundale Palace - baroque masterpiece

Sample weekend excursions:

(continued)

Daugavpils: picture gallery

28

Daugavpils: picture gallery

29

(continued)

Learn Russian in the EU – contacts

30

LatInSoft SIA

Mihoelsa 56, Daugavpils, LV-5400, Latvia

www.latinsoft.lv

"Learn Russian in the EU" project

www.learnrussianineu.com

Contact: Sergey Simonov

Tel. +371 65407209, +371 29544413

E-mail

®

31

See you in "Learn Russian in the EU"!

www.learnrussianineu.com

www.facebook.com/learnrussianineu