Orenburg state university

Only English!

"Finns, Danes and Russians speak only English!" — is the main rule for participants of IX International English Language and Networking Courses passing in Orenburg State University from July 28 to August 3.

The project started by the initiative of VIA University College (Denmark) in 2006 unites universities of five countries — Denmark, Spain, Poland, Russia and Finland. Orenburg State University welcomes courses participants for the second time already.

— The purpose of this project is to improve English knowledge for lecturers and representatives of universities administrations for whom English language isn't native — OSU Vice-rector for Scientific Research Sergey Letuta emphasized at the opening. — Useful skills in the sphere of international education, cooperation and academic exchange are accented mostly.

All courses events didn’t look like a lesson, lecture or meeting of lecturers. There were tasks in the form of discussions and self-presentations, games replaced each other. Teachers, lecturers, heads of educational programs from Hämeenlinna University of Applied Sciences (Finland), VIA University College (Denmark) and OSU staff told each other about own work and life, joked and laughed. The teachers of OSU English Philology and English Language Teaching Methodology Department created friendly and relaxed atmosphere of communication that everyone wanted to show up oneself in communication, despite of language skills.

Apart from seminar English classes, lectures of Hämeenlinna University of Applied Sciences’ representatives for colleagues from OSU Architecture-Construction and Geological-Geographical Faculties there were excursions to Orenburg Museum of Fine Arts, to Sol-Iletsk Lake and miles of communication. So, what was remembered and surprised as the result?

Turns out, Orenburg has a lot of tower buildings and the city looks at high level from architectural point of view; the number of cyclists on streets increased and there are practically no people drinking beer or alcoholic drinks. Certainly, Razval Lake, Cossack kuren in Sol-Iletsk with amazing Russian stove and samovar, immense "Armada" moll surprised the visitors. Guests were interested with pragmatism peculiar to Europeans, whether it’s possible to rent the yacht-club and come to Orenburg via Chinese-St. Petersburg Road which is barely planed to construct. Many prohibitive tablets around "Red Square" construction were taken with humor, but a lack of English translation in restaurant menus and on streets signs still disappoints. It was very surprising, that one of courses teachers perfectly speaking English never left Russia and very distressing that week-long visit to Orenburg ended so quickly… The idea was born during a farewell meeting: we could make similar courses for students in universities-partners, right? The project doesn't simply live, it’s developing.