Ambassadors of the Russian Language: “We open the door to the world of Russian culture”

From the CIS countries to Cuba, China, Ecuador and Peru. This is the geography span of the international volunteer program ‘Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World’.

The delegation of volunteers embarked on their first educational and outreach expedition in 2015, first heading to Armenia. Since then, Armenia has been on the list of countries visited every year and this year was no exception, as the ambassadors were eager to return to the country to celebrate their anniversary.

Over the past 10 years, the ‘ambassadors’ have undertaken more than 100 expeditions to 25 different countries. And they have inspired over 70,000 schoolchildren and students to learn Russian!

What’s the program about?

‘Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World’ is a unique international program organized by the State Pushkin Russian Language Institute, with the support of state structures and agencies (the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ‘Rossotrudnichestvo’).

‘Ambassador’ expeditions can last from a week to several months and are based at various organizations: schools, universities, educational centers and even recreational camps.

Program volunteers introduce students to the Russian alphabet, play the spoons, discuss Russian cuisine and traditional Russian crafts, teach proverbs, sayings and superstitions and reveal other cultural features of Russia.

For each group of students, the ‘Ambassadors of the Russian Language’ prepare individual thematic lessons tailored to their language proficiency level. They discover famous Russian figures, holidays, while learning more about Russia’s education, science and space exploration. And special attention in the expedition's lesson plans is always given to the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

As the Pushkin Institute says, one of the program's goals, besides promoting the Russian language, is to captivate people with Russian culture. And, with that interest, inevitably comes an interest in the language and studying in Russia.

With those already learning Russian, the ambassadors’ practice speaking skills, sing songs and conduct thematic lessons. This gives foreign students the opportunity to interact with genuine native speakers representing different parts of Russia, from Pyatigorsk to Vladivostok.

“The importance of this program is that students can practice the language with its native speakers, learn about the culture and life of Russia without leaving their own country,” says Anier López Pérez, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Havana. The ‘Ambassadors of the Russian Language’ have visited Cuba three times already.

Who can become an ‘Ambassador’?

The program participants (the ‘Ambassadors’) are students, postgraduate students and young specialists in the field of the Russian language aged 18 to 35. Every year, the Pushkin Institute announces a drive for new volunteers, who subsequently undergo a training program in methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language, as well as numerous techniques of game-based learning and intercultural communication.

During the program's existence, over 350 enthusiasts have received the title of ‘Ambassador of the Russian Language’ and more than 7,000 people from nearly 200 Russian universities have applied for the program.

“For me, 'Ambassadors of the Russian Language in the World' is a dialogue of cultures, generations and hearts. We don't just teach the language; we open the door to the rich world of Russian culture, literature and values based on humanity, mutual understanding and respect,” says David Esayan, an ‘Ambassador’ since the very first selection in the 2015 program.

Cultural & educational program

In every expedition, volunteers are accompanied by program methodologists from among the leading teachers of the Pushkin Institute. In the host countries, they conduct educational and scientific seminars for Russian language teachers and scholars of Russian studies, help adapt lessons for specific audiences of schoolchildren and students and support the ‘Ambassadors’ in their pedagogical and creative pursuits.

“I believe the program has great development potential. Every year, my colleagues and I develop new themes that allow foreigners to see Russia in all its diversity. Who knows, perhaps, one day, our lessons will come together as a series of textbooks for teaching Russian as a foreign language on short-term expeditions,” says Alexandra Olkhovskaya, a program methodologist.