This summer at Meridian High School, students from all over the country who speak Russian had an opportunity to connect with other students who speak their language. The Russian Culture and Language Course is provided through STARTALK and is a University of Washington program.
The program is free and open to all Russian-speaking students who are 14 years of age or older. Students learn about Russian culture, while practicing their language skills. Students also have the opportunity to earn high school and college credit during the year-long program.
The Russian Culture and Language Course runs from January 2023 to June 2024, with a two-week in-person language immersion camp hosted at Meridian High School in July. During the year, students meet on Zoom in small groups for one hour per week.
The course is taught by Meridian High School multilingual learner specialist Larisa Shuvalova. Shuvalova wanted to bring the program to Bellingham after having been part of it in Seattle. She knew the program would provide an invaluable experience for high school students who speak Russian. While several Meridian High School and Whatcom County high school students are in the course, students from as far as Florida are also enrolled.
“The camp is a lot of fun and I think it is important for students to connect with other students who speak their language. We spend time talking about history, art and music, and how people express themselves through art,” Shuvalova said. “I am thankful to Meridian School District for being supportive of hosting this program in our district.”
The summer course ends with students taking a test to prove their language proficiency. Students who pass the test can earn a Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma. At the completion of the year-long course, students will be able to earn five college credits.
Students and families who are interested in learning more about the program can visit the University of Washington STARTALK website.