Administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, the Russian Flagship Program is designed to address the critical need for U.S. professionals able to speak, read, write, and understand Russian at the highest levels of functional proficiency. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare students to reach “professional” or “distinguished-level” language proficiency (ILR 3, 3+, 4/ACTFL “Superior” or “Distinguished” Levels) through an intensive program tailored to students’ professional interests and academic specializations.
Russian Flagship is structured as a two-tier program. The Stateside Program is regarded as the first tier, designed to train students to reach the Russian-language proficiency level required for the Overseas Program in St. Petersburg, Russia. Students whose language proficiency ranges from Intermediate-High to Advanced-Low levels on the ACTFL scale are invited to apply to the Stateside Program. Students already at the Advanced-Mid or Advanced-High language level should consider applying directly to the second tier, the Overseas Program.
Stateside Russian Flagship Program
This U.S-based intensive language program is intended to assist qualified students in attaining the ACTFL Advanced-Mid/Advanced-High level in Russian language proficiency. The nine-month Stateside Russian Flagship Program is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who have studied Russian for a minimum of three years at the university level. Heritage speakers are also welcome to apply. Applicants must have an ACTFL proficiency level of Intermediate-High or Advanced-Low in speaking, reading, and/or listening; a semester or academic year of immersion-learning in a Russian-speaking country is recommended.
The Stateside program is administered by American Councils (ACTR) and a consortium of four Flagship Centers across the United States. Students may choose to attend the Stateside program at one of the following schools:
- Bryn Mawr College
- The University of Maryland at College Park
- The University of California at Los Angeles
- Middlebury College
In addition to the Stateside academic program, participants may be recommended for the nine-week summer immersion course at Middlebury College. Graduates of the Stateside Flagship Program will be eligible to apply for the Overseas Russian Flagship Program in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Overseas Russian Flagship Program
The Overseas Russian Flagship Program, administered by American Councils: ACTR/ACCELS, is designed for Americans who wish to attain superior or distinguished (ILR 3, 3+, 4 http://www.govtilr.org) proficiency in the Russian language. The Overseas program is hosted by St. Petersburg State University and entails nine months of intensive Russian language study. The program features formal coursework in discourse development, individualized tutorials, biweekly excursions, and home-stays with Russian families. Participants benefit from extensive opportunities for professionally focused language development and language utilization through regular university courses in their area of specialization and internships with local organizations.
Upper-level undergraduate or graduate students and working professionals who have already achieved the Advanced-Mid or Advanced-High level in at least two modalities are eligible to apply for the Overseas program. Heritage speakers are also welcome to apply. Students receive academic credit for graduate-level courses through Bryn Mawr College. Support services include mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C.; accident and illness insurance; a full-time U.S. resident director; and American Councils offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Petersburg.