The "Russian Language Week in Slovakia", held from November 11 to 15 this year, has concluded.
Over five days, lectures on Russian language and literature were delivered both in person and online by university professors and educators: Prof. N. B. Korina and Assoc. Prof. E. I. Kaletsits from the Constantine the Philosopher University (Nitra), and T. Stadler from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Online sessions were broadcast from Surgut State Pedagogical University, represented by Prof. D. V. Larkovich, Assoc. Prof. E. I. Breusova, Assoc. Prof. A. P. Kashkareva, and Assoc. Prof. I. A. Usanova.
The events were hosted at universities, gymnasiums, the Russian House in Bratislava, the conference hall of the Aircraft Business Center, and the Aircraft Gallery.
"Russian Language Week in Slovakia" is a pilot project aimed at promoting the Russian language in Slovak universities and gymnasiums. The week served as a testing ground for finding the most effective methods for working with high school students, university students, and teachers. One of the week’s significant successes was its collaboration with Slovak universities where Russian and Slavic studies are taught. Lectures were well-received by teachers, young professionals, and students from universities in Prešov, Nitra, Trnava, Ružomberok, and Banská Bystrica. Participating secondary schools included the Albert Einstein Gymnasium (Bratislava), the Ivan Horvat Gymnasium (Bratislava), and the P. Horov Gymnasium (Michalovce). Individual teachers and other guests with interests in language and literature also joined the online lectures.
A highlight of the week was the Literature Days, dedicated to the lives and works of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Participants were able to visit the exhibitions "The Light of Yasnaya Polyana" and "Fyodor Dostoevsky" at the Russian House in Bratislava and the European Foundation for Slavic Literature and Culture.
One of the week’s discoveries was the quest "Russian Culture and Language", organized for high school students. It successfully took place at the Ivan Horvat Gymnasium, with online streaming enabling participation from the P. Horov Gymnasium in Michalovce. This format of engaging students in language material through interactive challenges has proven effective, and the plan is to continue similar activities in collaboration with gymnasiums.
Another highlight was the Folklore Day, organized for gymnasium and university students by director M. Vladimirova (NGO Ruslana) and the family Belarusian ensemble "Prasnica" (in Russian, "Spinning Wheel") at the Aircraft Gallery. Songs, dances, and traditional costumes proved to be the best way to connect students with the language, culture, and traditions of the Russian people.
The Closing Ceremony of the week featured a speech by the President of the European Foundation for Slavic Literature and Culture, Prof. I. I. Bondarenko. Words of support for the project were also shared during the online broadcast by First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Slovakia, I. V. Kuznetsova; President of the Union of Russians in Slovakia, N. G. Chumak; and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Studies at Prešov University, G. Turisova. Teachers from bilingual gymnasiums spoke about the importance of supporting Russian language education in secondary schools. Prof. N. B. Korina summarized the outcomes of the Russian Language Week in Slovakia.
Organizers and lecturers received commemorative gifts, while participants and winners of the quest will be awarded certificates of participation.
N. Yadryshnikova