Ambassador
James F. Collins, US Ambassador to the Russian Federation
...if a younger generation of Americans is to work with a new
Russia constructively and effectively, we will need a well-trained
cadre of Russian specialists who understand the culture, speak
the language, and can interact with Russians. As our bilateral
relationship grows into a complex network of contacts in a variety
of fields, those American lawyers, doctors, engineers, and other
specialists who speak Russian and know the culture will be vital
to achieve constructive results from expanding opportunities to
engage with Russian colleagues.
Richard
D. Brecht, Director, National Foreign Language Center, Washington,
DC
There
are now more jobs for people who can speak Russian than ever before
in our history. And, the situation is only going to get better....
Andover is, without question, one of the flagship Russian language
programs in the United States.
Catherine
S. Osgood, Deputy Director, The American Committee for Peace in
Chechnya, Washington, DC, PA '95
One
of my main reasons for coming to study at Andover was the Russian
language program. I traveled to Russia for the first time when
I was thirteen on a 10-day program organized by my junior high
school in Montana. At the time I couldn't speak a word of Russian,
but the experience of being immersed in another culture left quite
an impression on me. I promised myself that I would study the
language and return someday with the tools to be able to learn
and experience more.
The
Russian program at Andover is intense and engaging. I remember
my first day in Mr. Svec's class and being initially overwhelmed
that the entire class was conducted in Russian. But the "total
immersion" method of teaching a language really works. It encouraged
us to use the language from the beginning, little by little, until
we found that we were able to communicate. It's an amazing and
satisfying process to study a language, and the Russian program
at Andover is both challenging and rewarding.
At
Cornell University, I double majored in Russian and East European
Studies and as a College Scholar of languages with the hope that
the combination of government and language courses would prepare
me for a career in international affairs. Through a study abroad
program in Moscow and my courses at Cornell, I pursued my interest
in developing democracies, especially Russia. After graduation
I hoped to find a job where I could try to make a difference,
use my languages, and gain experience in foreign policy and human
rights issues. My knowledge of the Russian language helped me
to find a job in a non-governmental organization specializing
in programs to bring parliamentarians from developing democracies
to the U.S. in order to exchange ideas with representatives of
NGOs, government agencies, administration officials, and members
of Congress. Later I found a position working with a committee
dedicated to promoting a peaceful resolution of the conflict in
Chechnya and urging the Russian government to affirm democratic
rule of law and to protect human and civil rights.
When
I first came to work for an NGO in Washington, DC, I was surprised
and inspired by the number of people I met who had attained fluency
in Russian and were applying it in their various fields. There
is increasing demand and career opportunities for Russian speakers
in a variety of areas: government, humanitarian relief work, human
rights activism, research, business, journalism... I wholeheartedly
encourage students to take Russian at Andover. It's a truly fun,
and useful, course of study!
Amanda
Schneider, PA '98
I
honestly think that deciding to take Russian was one of the best
decisions I've ever made, and one of the luckiest. No class has
ever affected the shape of my life as much as Russian. It very
quickly becomes a very integral part of who you are as a person.
I know that this is true for other friends who started Russian
here in college or at other high schools as well, although perhaps
it's particularly true for me because Russian at Andover was so
intense ... Russian has really been incredibly important to me
in my life...
Paul
Chiozzi, PA '03
As
a junior, I was very unsure about my decision to take Russian,
being so unfamiliar with the language. But once I adjusted to
it, I realized that taking Russian was probably the best decision
I had made. It's a rewarding language with a lot to offer, and
I'm always eager to learn more.
Joseph
Musumeci, PA '03
I
strongly disliked languages at my old school, but language has
come to be my favorite subject since I began taking Russian. As
Russian classes are generally small, you gain a close relationship
with your peers as well as your teacher. When I first came to
Andover, I was nervous about taking Russian; I didn't think it
would be useful to me. Now Russian is my favorite course, and
I have found a multitude of people to speak with, including my
tennis coach who knows almost no English.
