RGGU

[ulvesang.livejournal.com]

Does anyone here have any knowledge about Российском государственном гумантарном университете (РГГУ), especially in the regards of an exchange programme to do an immersion in Russia? Is their linguistics department good in general?

Спасибо большое

Comments

[edricson.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about their exchange programmes (I do not study there), but their linguistics department is very good by Russian terms: some people would argue it is one of the three leading departments in the country. Others would disagree, but personally I am strongly for the former view.

[izergilda.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to offend anyone taking a major in RGGU (i know that the abbreviation is incorrect but i'm not sure how it should be spelt in English +) ), but i hear that the linguistics department there leaves a lot to be desired. At least in comparison with MSLU (Moscow State Linguistic University) which has always been the major and the most well-known institution to prepare linguists in general and interpreters/translators and teachers of a foreing language in particular.
So, I believe, you'd better think twice before doing an immersion in RGGU. +)
It's up to you, though.

[edricson.livejournal.com]

The normal abbreviation is RSUH (Russian State University for the Humanities).

I think we have a minor culture clash here, and I'm not sure what ulvesang had in mind exactly. Since ulvesang is from Scotland, I suspect that "linguistics" in the post refers to linguistics as the science of language, NOT to linguistics as commonly understood in Russia to refer to studying foreign languages (something that is usually described in Britain as "Modern Languages"; here (http://old.russ.ru/ist_sovr/sumerki/20030117_kro.html) is a good article (in Russian) about that). With all due respect to the good folks at MSLU, the linguistics there is not as good as at RSUH.

But for all I know the immersion at MSLU might be better -- I don't know anything about either.

And I'm not going to start a flame war or offend anyone personally here, sorry! I'm a neutral party anyway.

[izergilda.livejournal.com]

what reliable source have you got to claim that linguistics is studied better there? i'm extremely interested myself, really. maybe, it's high time i changed my university.

it sounds hilariously funny to me when you say that linguistics (in all its senses) is taught better at RSUH. i believe, you should double-check your information. +)

let us not second-guess, and let ulvesang decide for him(her)self.

[thespinningone.livejournal.com]

Since summer 2005, I've got acquainted with several Americans who went to РГГУ (RSUH?) for an exchange program. I can't speak for all of them but two of them said they were happy with their studying period here. And they really succeeded in Russian.))

ps: I have nothing to do with this university - in case anyone thinks I'm defending it.)) Just some facts.))

[trepang.livejournal.com]

yes, the linguistics branch in RSUH is great.

[joliecanard.livejournal.com]

I went there as an exchange student. I didn't take linguistics courses with Russian students, so I can't tell you about that dept. (Russian linguistics schools tend to be quite good in descriptive linguistics but quite poor in theoretical linguistics compared to the west). In general, the instruction was good and it was a good experience, but the administration is beyond disorganized. Nobody knew when my classes ended and when exams were - not the profs, not the admin, so I just arranged on my own with the prof when I'd take the exam. The administration barely knows what's up but they'll do you special visa favors as long as there's money in it for them.
Middlebury College has an exchange program with RGGU with their own classes (taught in Russian). I was friends with many of those students and attended one of their classes, which was great. If you can, I'd do an exchange at RGGU through Middlebury, or see if you can enroll in their spetskursy while there, at least. Those courses are well-organized and excellent.

[edricson.livejournal.com]

I agree with the general comment about Russian linguistics departments, but I would like to state emphatically that the one at RSUH is quite decent by Western standards. Of course it's not MIT or Berkeley or Leiden or anything, but it's pretty good (izergilda above obviously disagrees, but that's my opinion), with several truly world-class scholars.

[judiwe.livejournal.com]

Hi to everybody!
I'm Russian. I studied at RSUH atthe Department of Linguistics and yes it's great!
Though the Foreign Languages don't always seem that good! I got along with many Canadian students that didn't study anything and were just merrily spending their time, drinking vodka etc. A Canadian girl said that the lessons that I gave her were more useful then her teacher's lessons!
But - one more thing! The students at RSUH are very friendly and helpful and you can profit from it!