Full immersion Russian language communication skills courses – in the European Union!
The project "Learn Russian in the EU" gives you a unique chance to attend intensive Russian language course and experience a total language immersion in the territory of European Union.
Training Centre LatInSoft works in Daugavpils – a Russian linguistic enclave, "the most Russian" town of Latvia, and, presumably, of the entire European Union and NATO. In Daugavpils Russian language is the language of everyday communication.
Training Centre LatInSoft offers a selection of training programs: Basic Russian, Russian for professional communication, refresher courses for Russian language teachers.
We specialize in providing tailored communication skills courses for individuals or very small groups. We always design a specific course for each particular individual student or a group of students in order to comply with skills level, training objectives, wishes, preferences, and budget of every customer. That is why our courses are very efficient and fun.
Our course may be tailored according to NATO STANAG 6001 standard or USA Interagency Roundtable Standard requirements. We have successful experience in preparing our students for DLPT Russian tests.
Classes are usually supported by home-stay with a Russian-speaking family, excursions and social events.
High teaching quality, exciting social program, home-stay in Russian families, nice and comfortable town – this is what we are proud to offer to our students.
We inherited a remarkable ethnical, confessional, cultural diversity. The largest historical communities – Russian, Latvian, Latgalian, Jewish, Polish, Byelorussian, Gypsy – have been living here for ages. Cultures, traditions, languages of these nations are deep inside life of the town and life of many families. Cultural environment here is just unique!
Daugavpils is the hometown of Mark Rothko. World famous abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko (Marcus Rothkowitz) was born in Dvinsk (now – Daugavpils) in 1903. Here he spent his childhood and first school years before the family immigrated to the USA in 1913.
Please contact us, and we will give you any further information about our courses.
See you in "Learn Russian in the EU"!
2. Learn Russian in the EU
Background Project Course
Introduction
and mission highlights details
2
3. Who we are
LatInSoft SIA is a Latvian private company, specializing in business
management software development, IT infrastructure solutions,
professional training and vocational education:
Founded in 1991, Daugavpils
Member of BSA Latvia, LIKTA
Training Center LatInSoft – state accredited education institution
ISO 9001:2008 certified company
3
4. What we offer
Essence of our project
• Full immersion Russian language and communication skills proficiency
improvement courses in the European Union
The project features
• The project takes advantage of the unique ethnical and cultural background of
Daugavpils region
We will highly appreciate your support
• Please promote the project to government agencies, language schools,
educational institutions, businesses, NGOs in your country
4
5. Learn Russian in the EU
Background Project Course
Introduction
and mission highlights details
5
6. Unique place
Daugavpils is a unique place – a Russian linguistic
enclave at the territory of the European Union.
Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia, where
105 000 people live
53% of the population are ethnic Russians;
80% of the population speak Russian as their
first language;
96% of the population speak Russian fluently;
Russian is the language of everyday
communication.
Daugavpils is "the most Russian" town in Latvia and
in the entire European Union and NATO.
6
7. LatInSoft competences
Business Professional
software training,
development
skill
improvement
7
8. Project mission
Unique place –
the most Russian Full immersion
town in the EU Russian courses
in the
European Union
LatInSoft
training experience
8
9. Learn Russian in the EU
Background Project Course
Introduction
and mission highlights details
9
10. Target customers
Professionals and teams
• Enhancing practical communication skills in Russian.
Government training institutions
• Full immersion language proficiency improvement and cultural
training for officers and support personnel of foreign affairs,
defense, customs, police.
Businesses
• Business communication and cultural training for successful
relationships with Russian-speaking customers, suppliers and
partners.
Non-government organizations
• Bridging East and West, cross-cultural network development.
Universities and educational institutions
• Full immersion intensive language practice for students and
teachers, refresher courses for Russian language teachers.
10
11. Courses we offer
Refresher
courses for non-
Russian for native Russian
professional language teachers
communication
General Russian
Course
Individual one-to-one courses
Fully-tailored project groups
11
12. Course tailoring
Customer Training center
Draft program development
Customer application General proposal
Program details negotiation
Objectives, budget, specific requests Detailed program, cost finalized
Study and social program finalized
Individual goals and wishes Placement test, preliminary interviews, fine tuning
Implementation monitoring
Daily feedback from students Instant adjustments
Exclusive program for each customer
12
13. Why Learn Russian in the EU?
Our major advantages
Russian-speaking environment
High quality of teaching
Enthusiastic teachers
Course tailoring for each group
Stay with a Russian-speaking host family
13
14. Why Learn Russian in the EU?
Even better than in Russia
Unique ethnical, cultural, religious diversity
Comfort, service and safety of a European town
No visas required for citizens of many countries
14
15. What our students say
“I have worked with many different Russian language training
programs in Russia, Ukraine, and Estonia during the past eleven years.
Your program is one of the very best I have seen. You and your staff
have superior organizational skills, constantly strove to make sure that
the needs of each student were met, and provided our group with
interesting and supportive families.
I was pleasantly surprised by the city of Daugavpils. Not only is it
thoroughly “Russian” in character, the city is clean, friendly, and safe. I
would strongly recommend your school and Daugavpils to anyone who
either wants to begin learning Russian for the first time, or who would
like a true Russian immersion experience in order to perfect their
skills.”
- Wayne M.
15
16. What our students say
(continued)
“I think if anyone wants to learn Russian language and at the same
time wants to live an unforgettable experience, then Daugavpils is the
ideal city!
The school is a gem: the teachers are very competent, professional
and very attentive to the needs of the students and are ready to settle
any questions of the student. Personally, I spent 3 weeks that I would
call - without exaggerating - memorable and I am sure that next year I
will come back again.”
- Piero Q.
16
17. Learn Russian in the EU
Background Project
Introduction Course details
and mission highlights
17
18. I. General Russian Course
Full immersion: versatile and creative classroom activities are reinforced by unique
host family experience, excursions and out-of-class cultural program.
Class levels Elementary, Pre-intermediate (A1-B1)
Course length 1- 5 weeks
Course tailoring The program is designed according to student’s language level, wishes and
expectations.
The course may be tailored according to TRKI, NATO STANAG 6001
standard or USA Interagency Roundtable Standard requirements, DLPT
tests.
Teachers • Language specialists
• Native speakers as communication partners (for certain exercises)
Out-of-class activities • Workday and weekend sightseeing tours
• Individual practical homework assignments (at a bank, store, real
estate agency, etc.)
Special features Total language immersion (classes + out-of-class activities + native host
family).
18
19. I. General Russian Course
(continued)
The course encourages students to think and speak Russian all the time:
Learn how to get necessary information by talking to a person
(including telephone conversations) or from a written source
Learn how to explain themselves in a variety of real life situations,
discuss things and share ideas in Russian easily
Extend their vocabulary by learning essential Russian words and
phrases with the focus on the vocabulary needed
Perfect accent by listening to native Russian speakers
19
20. II. Russian for professional
communication
Unique combination of language studies and business training. The course
focuses on business communication skills development in a Russian-speaking
environment.
Class levels Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced (A2 – B2)
Course length 1 - 3 weeks
Course tailoring The program is designed according to participants’ initial language level and
business/organizational needs.
The course may be tailored according to NATO STANAG 6001 standard or
USA Interagency Roundtable Standard requirements, DLPT tests.
Teachers • Language specialists
• Business coach
• Local businessmen as invited speakers and communication partners
Out-of-class activities • Practical case study (local business practices)
• Workday and weekend sightseeing tours
Special features • Videotaping of the participants with further analysis
• Total language immersion (classes + out-of-class activities + native
host family)
20
21. II. Business communication in
Russian
(continued)
Developing business communication skills for business executives and
professionals in the shortest time possible:
Sector-specific vocabulary
Letter, telephone, report, and e-mail skills in Russian
Make presentations, prepare meetings with Russian partners
Dealing with numerical data
Dealing with colleagues, informal communication with people
Sales, negotiation skills, cultural awareness
21
22. III. Courses for teachers
Our refresher courses for non-native Russian language teachers help them learn
new methods of teaching, share their best practice, as well as upgrade their own
communication skills in an authentic language environment.
Skills level Professional, experience in teaching Russian language
The course Applying Interactive Methods for Teaching Russian Language (5 days)
More study programs By 2013 we plan to introduce more refresher programs for teachers.
We can develop a specific course for a group of teachers upon request.
Our teachers • Teachers of Russian as a foreign language, teacher trainers
• Philologists, historians
• Specialists in methodology of teaching
Special advantages • Open lessons in local Polish and Latvian schools where Russian is taught
as a foreign language
• Participants can apply for funding, covering the costs of the course,
accommodation and travel, through the EU Lifelong Learning Program’s
(LLP) Grundtvig or Comenius grants.
22
23. Students’ life: host family
A private room in a carefully selected local Russian family, where a friendly
atmosphere allows a student to use Russian in a relaxed and natural way.
The students will be encouraged to take full advantage of communication
with their host family members and participate in their daily activities.
Majority of our students agreed this was one of the essential parts of
the program.
It was in the families where the students received a great deal of their
conversational practice.
23
24. Students’ life: Daugavpils
More facts about Daugavpils:
Founded as Dinaburg castle by Livonian knights in 1275
Daugavpils has changed several names throughout its history: Dinaburg (1275),
Borisoglebsk (1656-1667), Dvinsk (1893-1920), Daugavpils (since 1920).
Daugavpils has the biggest number of Russian Old-Believer’s churches in the world.
Dinaburg fortress was built in the 19th century and remained unchanged.
Daugavpils is the birthplace of the greatest Latvian poet Janis Rainis, world famous
painter Mark Rothko, and actor Solomon Mikhoels.
Daugavpils region inherited remarkable ethnical, confessional, and cultural diversity.
Largest historical communities – Russian, Latvian, Latgalian, Jewish, Polish,
Byelorussian, Gypsy.
24
25. Students’ life: Daugavpils
Daugavpils is the hometown of Mark Rothko
World famous abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko was born in
Dvinsk (now – Daugavpils) in 1903.
Mark Rothko's biographers note that impressions and experiences he
brought from his life in Dvinsk, as well as his deep knowledge of Russian
classic literature and Russian language had greatly influenced his
personality and creativity.
One of workday excursions, proposed to our students, includes visit to
Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum and Mark Rothko's exposition.
In the near future Mark Rothko's Art Center is going to be open in
historical Dinaburg Fortress’ Arsenal building. The Art Center will receive
several originals by Rothko for future expositions.
Russian communication and cultural immersion
in Mark Rothko's hometown is
an outstanding and unforgettable experience.
25
26. Students’ life: social program
Our social program aims at introducing students to ethnical,
historical and cultural diversity of Daugavpils. This includes short
trips during working days as well as full-day trips on weekends.
Sample workday excursions:
Welcome to Daugavpils tour
Daugavpils churches as symbols of history and diversity
Daugavpils Regional and Art Museum and Dinaburg fortress
Russian banya
26
27. Students’ life: social program
(continued)
Sample weekend excursions:
Basilica of Aglona, Museum of World War II and Museum of Bread in Aglona
Riga – the capital of Latvia.
Old Town, Jugendstil architecture, Jurmala sea resort (2 days)
Ligo – the most beloved national holiday in Latvia (2 days)
Rundale Palace - baroque masterpiece
27