Russian Courses at Cal Poly
Man is a mystery. It needs to be unravelled, and if you spend your whole life unravelling it, don't say that you've wasted time. I am studying that mystery because I want to be a human being.
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
Why should you learn Russian?
- Did you know that the US government considers Russian a critical language https://clscholarship.org/languages/Russian, offering fully funded study abroad programs and bonus pay for proficient job applicants?
- Russia is one of the world's largest multiethnic countries and learning Russian will allow you yo communicate with more than 258 million people worldwide.
- Russian language has made significant contributions to math, science and modern technology, space exploration, theater and film, literature, philosophy and other areas.
- After English, Russian is the second most important world language for research in chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, and the biological sciences.
First Year Russian Language Courses
Currently, there is no Russian Minor at Cal Poly. However, students interested in learning the Russian language may enroll in the following:
- Russian I is offered in Fall (WLC 101).
- Russian II in Winter (WLC 102).
- Russian III in Spring (WLC103).
- First-Year-Russian Courses
Cultures of Russia Course
Interested in learning more about the art, literature, philosophy, history and languages of Russia? Consider enrolling in Dr. Angelica Browne's WLC 310: Cultures of Russia. WLC 310 satisfies Upper Div Area C.
Intercultural Virtual Exchange with Students in Moscow
- Students enrolled in WLC 310 and WLC 101-103 will have the opportunity to meet virtually with students from National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), Moscow.
http://wlc.calpoly.edu/virtual-exchange-moscow
Russian Conversation Table
Hosted by Cal Poly's Russian Speaking Association, anyone interested in speaking or listening to Russian is welcome to attend weekly Russian Conversation Table.
The Instructor
Dynamic, inspiring and creative, Dr. Angelica Browne has taught German, Russian and English at several elite universities including Cal Poly, Brandeis and Heidelberg University, Germany. At Cal Poly, she is responsible for teaching German Literature, Culture and Language courses and a Cultures of Russia course. Born and raised in Russia, Angelica has lived, studied and worked extensively in Europe and the USA.
Dr. Angelica Browne awards:
Outstanding Career Achievement in Teaching by a Lecturer (2024)
https://cla.calpoly.edu/faculty-and-staff-awards
Student Achievements
Zoya Meydbray-Gonodanova (she/her), CLA Ambassadors Vice President | Paideia Editor in Chief | CLS Russian Finalist. Political Science, Law & Society, Philosophy, EPPST & Sustainable Environments
Zoya will be spending two months in Daugavpils, Latvia, studying through Learn Russian in the European Union — an intensive Russian language program designed to teach the equivalent of one year of Russian in just two months. The program includes 15 hours of weekly language instruction, cultural activities integrating Russian and Latvian traditions, a bi-weekly language exchange partner program, and group workshops.
Upon completing the program and receiving "alumni" status, Zoya will also be eligible for 12 months of non-competitive job placement with the U.S. State Department.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program (https://clscholarship.org) provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study languages deemed critical to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and global engagement. The program is fully funded by the U.S. State Department and covers room, tuition, international travel, visas, language placement tests, limited healthcare, and includes a stipend.
Each year, the CLS Program receives approximately 5,500 applications for about 500 scholarships. Selection is highly competitive and varies by language and proficiency level.
Cal Poly has had only three previous CLS recipients (in 2007, 2015, and 2018). Zoya is now the fourth!
