Abstract:

In cooperation with the company Latinsoft, in the framework of the project “Learn Russian in the EU”, Daugavpils University has been implementing the programme aimed at teaching the Russian language for foreign students for 12 years. While studying various academic study courses, foreign students (mainly from the USA) are encouraged to attend and participate in various cultural and social events. This is done with the aim to provide the students with an opportunity to experience the language use outside the academic environment.

In the process of teaching Russian as a foreign language, it is considered that it is not only necessary to immerse students into the environment and culture of the language to be acquired, but also offer them to participate in various social programmes, for instance, to volunteer and work as teacher / lecturer assistants in delivering the study courses aimed at teaching English and the US culture to school learners and students of English Philology at Daugavpils University, as well as to gain experience in working with children with special needs.

The paper presents an overview of the cultural and social activities (fairs, national festivals, workshops, assistance in orphanages and social centres), in which the foreign students have participated, and reflects on their skills and abilities to communicate with native speakers of Russian in various, often complicated situations.

Keywords:

Russian as a foreign language, cultural and social events, immersion, challenges.