Announcing RLASP Yerevan!

American Councils for International Education is pleased to announce that its Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) will be offered for semester as well as summer study in Yerevan, Armenia beginning in spring 2023. For more than 40 years, American Councils programs have provided U.S. students of Russian unique opportunities to engage with the Russian speaking world through intensive study and cultural immersion designed to produce measurable gains in language proficiency and cultural understanding.

Hosted by the Faculty of Russian Philology at Yerevan State University, the program provides 20 hours per week of intensive in-class Russian language instruction, housing with Russian speaking host families, weekly meetings and activities with conversation partners, weekly cultural activities, extended group travel to explore Armenia, and a rich array of opportunities to engage with the host country culture through university extracurricular activities, internships, and community service. A fully trained U.S. Resident Director provides ongoing logistical support and assistance, including 24-hour emergency aid, to participants throughout the program. The American Councils office in Yerevan is also available to assist and support program participants throughout their time in-country. The program is open to both graduate and undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of Russian language study.   

Students receive a full semester’s credit (graduate or undergraduate) through Bryn Mawr College for successful completion of the program.  

The program is designed to provide students a deeper understanding of Armenia and its surrounding region while also strengthening their Russian proficiency and cultural competency. Therefore, courses on the history and culture of Armenia and the South Caucasus (taught in Russian) are an integral part of the curriculum; students are also encouraged to take advantage of optional Armenian language instruction, offered at all proficiency levels, during the semester.

More information about RLASP can be found here.