On March 14, 2016 NSLI-Y Interactive hosted a virtual event, "Moldova Through the Eyes of NSLI-Y Russian-Language Students."

Five NSLI-Y students who are currently studying Russian language in Moldova gave presentations about their experiences as language students, cultural ambassadors, and NSLI-Y scholarship recipients. All presentations and the Q&A were in Russian. High school students from Staten Island Technical School in Staten Island, NY and students from the Friends school of Baltimore in Baltimore, MD joined and had the chance to interact with and ask the NSLI-Y students questions in Russian. The NSLI-Y Interactive Team would like to sincerely thank Ms. Ushakova at SITS and Ms. Roby at the Friends School for organizing their Russian language classes to join the event. We would also like to thank all of the student presenters for their excellent preparation, and of course, our colleagues at American Councils for all their efforts. Thank you all for making "Moldova Through the Eyes of NSLI-Y Russian-Language Students" a success!

Highlight #1 "NSLI-Y Academic Program"

Studying Russian language is not simply a classroom based experience in grammar and vocabulary. It is a study of another culture, history, and way of living. It wasn’t until I got to Moldova with NSLI-Y that I realized that the language is not only a beautiful way of communicating, but that each sentence structure and each new world is a clue into the history and daily lives of millions of people. - Mary

Highlight #2 "Learning Russian Outside of the Classroom"

Russian is satisfying on a purely academic/mental level, as the language is both difficult and fascinatingly structured (not to mention its rich vocabulary and ability to convey slight shades of meaning in a way that English can’t). More than that, it has also opened the door to Russian literature, poetry and art and given me access to a side of the world that I didn’t know before. Russian has given me opportunities to learn more about the world around me and to learn more about myself, my culture, and the way I express myself through language. - Alexandra

Highlight #3 "Discovering Moldova through the Cultural Enrichment Program and through interactions Professional Development"

There have been challenges, but I haven’t for a second regretted taking a gap year to study Russian. I’ve had a close-up view of Moldova’s dynamic political scene and fascinating traditions that stem from a blend of cultures and peoples. This experience has opened my eyes to the values, issues, and day-to-day happenings that characterize this part of the world. - Isabelle

Highlight #4 "Exploring Chisinau"

On a whim, I decided to sign up for the Russian course during freshman year in order to fulfil my high school’s language requirement. I ended up falling in love with the language, and it has certainly changed my path is life for the better. Having a knowledge of the Russian language is like holding a key to understanding the people, culture, and history of not only Russia, but of all the countries of the former Soviet Union. - Nicholas

Highlight #5 "NSLI-Y Program Research Projects and Professional Development"

“Learning Russian has opened up so many doors for me to better understand both myself and others. I would say that even to those who don’t consider themselves 'language people' it is definitely worth it to spend time learning another language and another culture. At the very least, it gives you a different lens with which you can view modern and historical events. And at the most, it can change your life entirely. - Joseph

Highlight #6 Q&A

"Moldova Through the Eyes of NSLI-Y: Russian-Language Students" was an opportunity for Russian-language students in the U.S. to connect with other young language enthusiasts and to learn about the immersion language-learning experience.

The NSLI-Y Russian language academic year program in Moldova is administered by American Councils for International Education.

If you are a NSLI-Y alum, high school student, or language teacher and you are interested in receiving updates about NSLI-Y Interactive Virtual Events in the future please fill out this form.