From July 1 to 5, a selection round for the international programme “Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World” took place in the Pskov Region as part of the All-Russian Forum Istoki. Applications were submitted by candidates from 56 regions of the Russian Federation. The in-person stage of the selection gathered students and young teachers from 43 educational institutions – universities, colleges, and schools – representing 27 regions across the country. MCU’s Institute of Foreign Languages was represented by Alexey Bogdanov, an assistant at the Department of English and Linguodidactics.
“I’ve long been interested in teaching Russian as a foreign language (RFL). I even completed a professional development course at my university. While working for a year as an English teacher in Cuba, I met a colleague who had devoted her professional life specifically to RFL. She inspired me to develop in this field, so when the opportunity arose to apply for the ‘Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World’ programme, I didn’t hesitate to fill out the registration form,” shared Alexey.
During the selection process, participants gained new knowledge through lectures and workshops led by programme methodologists and instructors from the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute. They also showcased their creativity through artistic performances and demonstrated teaching skills by presenting lesson fragments. Alexey participated in a creative group that developed performances focused on the “Seven Secrets of the Russian Language” and explored elements of Kazakh culture — a culture frequently encountered by ambassadors during their international missions. On the final day, Alexey Andreyevich presented a lesson titled “Dad Can Do Anything,” aimed at developing students’ vocabulary on the topic of “Family.”
As a result of the selection, five ambassadors of the Russian language were chosen. This fall, they will embark on educational missions to countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States and beyond. Alexey Andreyevich was selected as one of the programme participants. He is now preparing for training at the A.S. Pushkin State Russian Language Institute and for his upcoming expedition to one of the neighboring countries.
Photo: photo channel Istoki.School