First week of the Russian Language Winter School – 2017 at YKSUG: excursions, cooking master class and traditional meeting night

Russian Language Winter School started at Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno for the second time. The first week appeared quite eventful for the foreign guests.

Since the first days in Grodno, visitors from Poland, France and Germany continued mastering the knowledge of Russian language. Lecturers of the Belarusian and Foreign Citizens Language Training Department conducted topical classes, where listeners of the Pre-University Training Faculty participate as well.

During next days the guest visited St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, where Canon Jan Kuchynski welcomed them. After the words of one of the RLWS participants, Gwendal Pege, doctoral student in historical sciences from France, he was particularly impressed with architecture of the Cathedral, the famous 21m altar of 18th century, unique sculpture compositions, its frescoes and catholic icons.

– A pleasant discovery it was to me, that the Cathedral had been named after my compatriot, a missionary and great martyr – St. Francis Xavier,  – told us the listener from France.

Foreign RLWS listeners attended a lecture on the culture of Belarus by Serhey Donskikh, Head of the Tourism and Cultural Heritage Department, with great pleasure. And the Belarusian cuisine making master class conquered all hearts. Listeners with volunteers and lecturers of the RLWS together were making kutya for the holyday of the Epiphany. Participants of RLWS performed well in “Russian karaoke” selective course, which is being organized for the second year at the department of language training of Belarusian and foreign citizens. During the course foreigners discovered Russian tongue-twisters and sang some songs in Russian, including famous “Katyusha”. And, of course, our guests attended various leisure venues of Grodno together with volunteers.

– We finished the first week of the RLWS with traditional meeting night, which is being organized for the 3rd time at the Faculty of Pre University training of YKSUG,  –  told Tatsiana Cherkes, senior lecturer of department of language training of Belarusian and foreign citizens. – The event gathered not only foreigners, who came to the RLWS, but also listeners of the faculty and alumni, as well.

Yury Romanovksy, the Dean of the Faculty of Pre-University Training, arranged a game, where guests had to quickly solve mathematical problem. The swiftest one was Liu Xinyue. During the meeting night participants told about themselves, their hobbies and homelands. Besides, there were vocal performances, most of which were sang in Russian language.