Students

The IU Russian Flagship brings together undergraduate students of various majors and disciplines, ranging from international studies, to microbiology and neuroscience, to business and cybersecurity. Here some of their stories.

How I Became Interested in Russian

“My love for learning languages began at 15, when I first enrolled in elementary French. After a summer study in Saumur, France, with Indiana University’s IUHPFL intensive language program, I knew I wanted to continue studying languages. However, I was ready for a more challenging language. Upon arrival at IU, I noticed that many students at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies studied a critical language, languages that are in high demand and are less often studied. Russian was the most attractive language to me given the diversity within the Russian speaking community. Russian is of course spoken in Russia and Eastern Europe, but also Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Baltic states. Moreover, Russia hosts a rich diversity of indigenous peoples with their own unique cultures and traditions.

I initially began studying Russian as a test of my language learning abilities, but during my time at IU, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. As a Russian Flagship student, I have been able to reach an advanced level of language proficiency, with one on one language training and opportunities to complete immersive studies both domestically and internationally. Moreover, I now have a deeper understanding of culture and have built strong relationships with Russian speaking individuals.

Studying Russian at Indiana University has played an instrumental role in shaping me into the well-rounded individual I am today. As I eagerly anticipate my capstone year in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I am immensely grateful for the support and encouragement provided by the Russian Flagship program.

Why the Russian Flagship is Right for Me

“The first language in which I embarked on a journey with was Spanish. I started off my sophomore year of high school with absolutely no knowledge of another language or culture and with barely any desire to learn about them. Following six weeks of study aboard in Mérida, Mexico with Indiana University’s IUHPFL intensive language program, I changed my mind from wanting to be a cardiothoracic surgeon to wanting to serve as a foreign service officer for the United States’ State Department. I knew then that I wanted to embark on yet another journey of learning a foreign language and culture, and with the most recent political tensions with Russia, I decided that learning about the country, the language, the people and their culture would be the best and most beneficial route for me.

I came to Indiana University with my mind dead set on learning Russian, and to my biggest surprise, they founded the Russian Flagship Program during my freshman year – things could not have gotten any better for me! Thus far, the Russian Flagship has offered me the ability to quickly and impressively build my spoken, written, listening and reading skills in Russian, learn about the colorful culture, and build relationships with native Russian speakers, as well as with students that have similar interests as me. Most of all, I cannot wait to spend a whole year abroad in Kazakhstan interacting with the language and the culture firsthand. The Russian Flagship – along with my majors in political science, Spanish Linguistics, and Slavic and Eastern European Languages and Cultures – is going to help me excel as a student and it will help me stand out in the professional world.”