The Individualized Russian Language Program for Heritage Speakers is intended to address the specific needs of students who speak Russian at home or with relatives, or who grew up speaking Russian and wish to strengthen their Russian skills. Program participants work with American Councils staff and host university faculty to develop a tutorial program serving their unique needs as language learners. All individualized programs focus on the development of Russian language skills, including grammar, conversation, and phonetics; courses in literature, history, and area studies are available for advanced students. Participants attend a minimum of twelve hours of tutorials per week.
American Councils has administered intensive language-immersion programs for U.S. undergraduates, graduate students, teachers, and scholars at universities and specialized institutions in Russia and Eurasia since 1976. More than 5,000 students, teachers, and scholars from universities and colleges throughout the U.S. have participated in American Councils programs for research and language study in Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Moldova, Belarus, and Southeast Europe. Today American Councils employs more than 300 expatriates and host-country nationals in thirty-four offices throughout Russia, Eurasia, and Southeast Europe.