Russian Language Residential Learning Community

Why a residential learning community?

In addition to speaking and listening practice, residents in the Russian language RLC will have the opportunity to make lasting friendships with students who share their interest in Russian and the Russian-speaking world, or come from there. As a result, we expect non-native Russian speakers to develop intercultural competency, and come away from their experience better prepared to engage with Russian speakers from different backgrounds and cultures in Areas Where Russian is Commonly Spoken (ARCS). For each of the native or near-native Russian speakers who chooses to live in our RLC, it represents a great opportunity to be an ambassador and to share their culture and heritage with their fellow residents.

Impact on the greater community at St. Olaf

In addition to offering a unique language-learning opportunity to Russian language students, the Russian Language RLC aims to give back to the greater community at St. Olaf by offering a home away from home to students who are connected to ARCS. The Russian Language RLC will also organize events for the broader community that provide residents with a platform for sharing their diverse cultures and heritages with fellow students as well as engaging with efforts to shed light on the often-overlooked colonial history of the Russian Federation and its impact on the broader ARCS region.

Location

The Russian RLC is located in Ytterboe 278 for the academic year 2025-26.

Activities

Russian Conversation Table: Weekly meetings to practice speaking Russian through games and activities.

Tea Time (чаепитие): Social hour held every Wednesday in the department lounge 10-10:45.

Events and Semester Parties: We celebrate important holidays throughout the year and mark the end of each semester with a big celebration of everyone’s accomplishments.

Invited Speakers: Faculty collaborate with the RLC to organize talks and panels focused on current events or relating to course offerings.