psulinguists

Center for East Asian Studies Launches at PSU

20.01.2023 / , , , , ,

The PSU Academic Council has made a decision to launch a Center for East Asian Studies, as a part of the Faculty of Philology, PSU. The Center will be led by Dr. Boris Kondakov, a known researcher of Chinese literature and culture, and a Professor at Perm State University.

The Center will perform research in linguistics, literary criticism and cultural studies of East Asian region,  as a part of the Faculty of Philology; it will also run educational activity in those fields. The Center staff, who come from the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, and the Department of Russian Literature, PSU, have been already teaching Chinese and Japanese languages, and Eastern Oriental literature and culture. The Center plans to employ post-graduate students from Japan and China studying in Perm, as well as promote cooperation with Chinese and related Russian universities.

“The Center will focus primarily on the study of Chinese and Japanese languages, culture and literature. There will be several new master’s programs in Philology and Pedagogical Education. For masters’ we will also offer several programs which incorporate studying Chinese. This year, we are planning to open admissions for the new program “Chinese and Japanese Languages” within the core course in Linguistics. We are also about to obtain a license for running the “Oriental and African Studies” program, shares Dr. Boris Kondakov, Head of the Center for East Asian Studies.

The Center will continue teaching two popular bachelors’ programs in Pedagogical Education – “Russian as a Foreign Language and Chinese language” (available for Russian and other students in Russian), and “Management in Education” (for Chinese students in English). Preparations for the master’s program “Pedagogical Education”, implemented with universities from Anhui and Shandong provinces (China), are also being made.

A series of meetings and workshops by teachers and partners of the Center addressing both applicants and students from PSU and other universities, will start in February, 2023.

PSU Philologists Discuss Language of Modern Science

28.12.2022 / , ,

The Faculty of Philology at Perm State University (PSU) has hosted for the 2nd All-Russian Scientific Conference “Language of Modern Science: Cross-Disciplinary Aspect” as part of the university-wide forum “Innovations and Technologies in Cross-Disciplinary Applications”. The Conference had been initiated and organized by the Department of Russian Language and Stylistics, PSU.

The Conference regarded the issues of expression and dissemination of scientific knowledge in the 21st century. Scholars from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Tyumen and Perm took part in the discussion, providing 14 reports in Russian and 7 reports in English within two days of the event.  

Maria Kotyurova, head of Perm Scientific School of Functional Stylistics, professor at PSU, spoke about the grounds for differentiating the stylistics of an academic text and speech science; Nadezhda Ryabtseva, Head of the Sector of Applied Linguistics at the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences drew attention to the problem of translating scientific terms under the predominant position of English language in academic communication.

Cross-cultural differences in scientific speech have been discussed by Professor Nina Romanova from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Professor Vera Tabanakova from Tyumen State University and Professor Lyudmila Kushnina from Perm National Research Polytechnic University.

In a number of reports, special attention was paid to assessment of scholars’ activity. Professor Valeria Chernyavskaya from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Professor Sergey Nefedov from Saint Petersburg State University and Associate Professor Natalya Solovieva from PSU shared their vision of the problem. Reports by Professor Sergei Grichin from Novosibirsk State Technical University, Professor Vladimir Medvedev from Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Professor Maria Shirinkina from PSU,  and Professor Natalia Kolesnikova from Novosibirsk State Technical University proved the cross-disciplinary study of the semantic structure of a modern scientific text to remain an urgent task in linguistics.

The Conference materials will be published in the “Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems” series by Springer, indexed in Scopus and be available electronically.

As Professor Elena Bazhenova, Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, Department of Russian Language and Stylistics, PSU has stated,

“the success of the annual Conference on the language of science comes from the fact it brings together researchers working in close areas of linguistics, beyond the functional stylistic direction. The problems associated with the study of various aspects of modern scientific communication help to meet like-minded experts, as well as identify the range of questions for further research.”

International Linguists Discuss Teaching Practices

28.12.2022 / , , , ,

On 24-25 October, 2022, an international online conference “Linguistic Technologies and Innovative Language Teaching” was held at Perm State University, as part of Perm International Forum “Science and Global Challenges of the 21st Century”. 

Despite Covid restrictions in 2021 and growing number of objectives, the scholars managed to dive into the process of fruitful collaboration, internationally. The Department of English Language and Intercultural Communications at Perm State University (PSU) encouraged a broader dialogue – inviting colleagues from all over Russia, as well as long-time partners Prof. Dr. Michael Losavio and Prof. Dr. Adel Elmaghraby (University of Louisville, USA), and Prof. Dr. Reima Sado Al-Jarf (King Saud University, Saudi Arabia) to participate. Due to Professor Svetlana Polyakova, one of the key contributors to science diplomacy at PSU and in Perm, academic links grow into bigger projects and sister cities’ links.  In 2022, the conference participants included students and teachers from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and the USA.

The scholars’ reports considered corpus-oriented approach to analyzing texts of different genres, comparisons within English scientific and technical discourse; news bioethics terminology; ethical-legal-technical challenges with the Internet of things; impact of pandemic crisis on university management; metaphors in philosophical discourse; cognitive linguistic analysis in advertising; economical, linguistical, juridical and educational issues in naming companies; approaches regarding British fiction as a tool in  tertiary level education.

“As a Conference co-organizer and contributor, I feel a certain tendency of scholars at finding something unexpected, yet catchy and prospective, long ahead standard expectations. Comparing reports of our foreign partners to those from Russian universities, I’d say the former tend to be more tech-oriented – regarding issues of digital technologies within the use of artificial intelligence, or machine learning in relation to a more humane world. Revealing the difference in academic paradigm in Russia, the Western countries and Eastern world, seems like a promising topic for a new research,”

says Konstantin Klochko, Head of the Department of English Language and Intercultural Communications, PSU.

Among the Conference participants are the University of Louisville (USA), Delta State University (USA), King Saud University, Moscow State University, St Petersburg University, National Research N. P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, and many more scholars from joint research projects.

PSU Scholar from Macedonia Participates All-Russian Conference on Linguistics

23.09.2022 / , ,

Senior Lecturer Aleksandar Taleski (Macedonia), along with his colleagues Leonid Pakhomov and Daria Pavlova, Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, PSU, presented reports at the All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation “Cognition, Culture and Communication in Modern Humanities”, held in Novosibirsk (Russia).

The Conference, attended by philologists from more than 30 cities of Russia and neighboring countries,  discussed the issues of conceptualization, communication, metaphorization, cognitive modeling of various processes, and all related aspects – both in real life and virtual reality.

Aleksandar Taleski spoke about the study of dual spatial orientation in virtual reality:

“Participation in a conference is always an opportunity to discuss important issues, get feedback, exchange experience. In my report, I presented the features of spatial orientation in virtual reality – the ways people feel about themselves and language means they use to express it,”

shares Aleksandar Taleski.

“Studying mechanisms of reading and interpreting text in native and non-native languages is an important topic of cognitive research, which bears cross-disciplinary experimental character and uses methods of eye movement registration, visual analytics and virtual reality technologies,” mentions Daria Pavlova in reference to the studies she conducts with St Petersburg State University.

Philology, in all its aspects, has been one of the core PSU disciplines since the University foundation in 1916, as a part of the Faculty of History and Philology. Since its early days and further on, passing transformation to the Faculty of Philology in 1960, and separation from modern foreign languages and literature in 2003, it keeps on growing and gets recognition on local and national level.  

For a long time, the Faculty of Philology has been building academic relations with partners from abroad, to name Austria, Baltic countries, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Korea, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, UK and former Yugoslavia states – aiming at productive cooperation in science and teaching, contributing to double degree programs, participating summer language schools, running joint research projects and leading publishing activity.

At PSU, education in philology involves a variety of modern disciplines. Apart from studying literature and learning languages, students explore local traditions and folklore, study Internet technologies and web design, master media relations and content management, and tend to create their own projects. The Faculty students take internships at local and national radio and TV-companies, publishers, PR-services and advertising agencies, as well as drill their skills at PSU campus media.

International Conference in Digital Didactics: Applications Start (due to 20 October)

05.09.2022 / , , ,

On 24-26 November, 2022, the II International Scientific Conference “Digital Didactics” will take place at Perm State University (PSU). The event is initiated by the Department of Linguodidactics and the Office for Innovative Pedagogical Resources, Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, (PSU).  

The Conference participants include speakers from the following European and Northern American institutions: University of Rostock (Germany), University of Louisville (USA), Coventry University (UK), Delta State University (USA), Central Michigan University (USA), Oxford-Brookes University (UK).

The Conference will cover the following research fields:

  • Global and national contexts of modern online education: trends, development scenarios, strategic goals;
  • Digital educational environment: technologies, methods, tools, EdTech;
  • Digital teaching methods and digital didactics standards;
  • Technical components / digital media: App tools, social networks and educational platforms;
  • Design of distance-learning programs and online courses;
  • Digital educational and methodological complexes, modern educational platforms and services;
  • Gamification of teaching process in digital educational environment;
  • Discourses in digital didactics;
  • Media literacy / artificial intelligence;
  • Teacher’s competencies in digital age;
  • Migration and digital education / multilingualism;
  • Analog into digital transfer, and vice versa.

The Сonference is interdisciplinary in nature. Invited to participate are students and teachers of various fields of expertise and specialty, showing interest in digital education and methods of teaching, and ready to share their relevant experience.  

Working languages of the Conference: Russian, German, English.

Forms of participation:

  • online presenter;
  • attendee.

Application dates: due to 20 October, included.

Conference Dates: 24-26 November, 2022

Location: ZOOM platform

For participation, please, register here.

For further information, please, see info letter.

Please, address further questions to: Ekaterina Kupriyanicheva, Executive Secretary, tel.: +7 (902) 804-52-39; e-mail: katya_bukreeva@mail.ru

Linguists Meet PR: PSU Students Defend Group Projects

11.07.2022 / , , ,

Keen on East Slavic mythology? Want to try promoting your national product on the Russian market? Learn places about Perm to chill out, taste national cuisine or make sports? Help international students adapt to the University? Dive into an online tour around PSU campus, museums and Botanical Garden? These topics and more served the starting points for joint research projects by students in Linguistics and Translation at the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages ​​and Literatures, PSU. The projects’ presentation in the form of the assessment took place on 1 July, 2022.

Addressing the project participants, Dr. Boris Proskurnin, Dean of the Faculty, referred to two major trends in Russian education – an accent on the fundamental knowledge, a reliable theoretical support, in the first place; and, its practical orientation, the applicability to situations in real life, in the second place. In Dean’s vision, PSU students in linguistics and translation act as a link for other university students in their appeal to a bigger multinational world of education and science, which is both a joy, and responsibility.

The students’ presentations showed both dedication to our home University and interest in international cooperation, with a fair strive to help foreign students adapt to the local environment. Along with quite able performance of translation tasks, the project participants demonstrated skills of creating illustrations, videos, websites and media – acting as copywriters, bloggers, SMM managers, PR specialists and journalists.   

Ms Elena Malkova, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, PSU, paid attention to three particular characteristics while assisting the students’ research activity. Firstly, the student is no more an object, but rather a subject, an obvious key to action and transformation of reality. Secondly, in the process of work, the students come to understand the ways the university works. Thirdly, while reporting, the teams should think of involving undergraduates into their projects, providing the latter a continuous, cyclical character.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Department of Linguistics and Translation staff and personally to Natalia Khorosheva for a truly and productively organized group project activity,” Ms Elena Malkova, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, PSU, has admitted. “This has a potential of growing into a system of events, as well as information and methodological support at working with international students, which complies with the overall youth and social policy at the University.”

The Group Project Activity is a new applied discipline at Perm State University (PSU) included into the overall study plan of all 3rd year students, complies with the federal academic leadership program Priority 2030. The goal of the Program is to form a large group of universities that will become the leaders in creating new scientific knowledge, technology, and developments for introduction into the economy and social sphere in Russia. Within the Group Project Activity, students are invited to implement scientific, cultural, educational or social projects, allowing them to apply their competencies and practice team work.

10 projects have been presented at the assessment event:  

  • The Faculty Promo: presentational video in English with subtitles in Russian and Spanish, introducing the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, PSU, for potential foreign applicants
  • “Media on Perm: People, Events, Places”: a website in Russian and English, with five sections each: “About us”, “Places”, “People”, “Brands”, “Phenomena”, providing original look at most interesting and relevant info about the city for tourists and foreigners living here, with dive in the local culture and “the opportunity to become part of the local community”
  • “PSU Assistance Centre”: a multilingual website for PSU Situation Center – with versions for computers and mobile gadgets. Eight sections – ” Declaration  of Values” , “Student Life”, “Hostels”, “Social Services”, “Psychological Assistance”, “Safety”, “Library Services” and “Feedback” are divided into subsections with most recent information, existing services and official documentation in Russian, English, Chinese, Turkmen languages
  • HOME: “Helping international students with adaptation at the university”, a Telegram channel as a source of information on PSU, with frequently asked questions. The goal of the project was to provide students from abroad with information on the basic structure of the university  – using most fast, comprehensive and friendly ways to deal with questions from studies to everyday life, as well as problem situations
  • “UNI-Quest”: Meet the First in the Urals”: a quest tour around PSU campus for international students (promo video)
  • “Heritage”: a site on East Slavic mythology, introducing foreign and Russian-speaking students into Russian culture
  • The translation of an office design project for a Spanish construction group.

“You Can’t Do Science When You Don’t Know Where to Buy Food”

11.07.2022 / , , ,

As part of group project activity, students of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU, have presented the HOME multimedia platform – standing for a comfortable adaptation of international students in a new environment – in the city and the university.

Following a formal translators’ task, the project participants intend to pass basic yet important information on Perm State University to the newcomers – using most fast, comprehensive and friendly ways to deal with questions from studies to everyday life, as well as problem situations. As the HOME team states, “it’s impossible to do science when you don’t know where to buy food”.  

The unique feature of the project is that it unites the University and the surrounding area of campus and the city. Addressing specifically the youth audience, the project team uses most appealing formats like infographics, subtitles- and voice- supported video, short posts, memos, etc.

“Having started the project, we discovered that beyond formal procedures and documentation, the University needs a new channel of information – enough comprehensible and useful for international students. This made us choose such a convenient and multifunctional format as a Telegram channel,”

shares Vera Pachgina, 3rd year student in Linguistics and Translation.

The Telegram is known as a cross-platform app accessible from any device, like mobile, laptop or computer. At the moment, 36 people have subscribed to the HOME channel. The Project team is actively engaged in its advertising, and expects positive dynamics:

“Not only does a small step into the Telegram territory enable the improvement in educational activity, it also allows international students to be informally accepted by the University and the city – enabling connections, acting as network elements of a larger mechanism of academic and social activity, rather than a separate, self-contained group. We regard it as key to contribution to the whole student life in Russia,”

the HOME team states.

The launch of the Project provides its makers an opportunity to continue during their 4th year of study, as well as share their duties with the freshers. According to Diana Maslova, head of the team, the HOME is likely to overgrow the initial educational task: “We are keen to support our channel with useful content, following the latest events and relevant information, and expand the language component.”

At PSU, the Group Project Activity is a new applied discipline included in to the 3rd year schedule, as a part of the overall educational process in Russia, under the Priority 2030 Program. Within its framework, students implement scientific, cultural, educational or social projects – allowing students to apply their newly acquired competencies and personal inclinations and into team work.

Quest Tour for International Students Launches at PSU Campus

28.06.2022 / , , , ,

Why does the University campus have a cat-related art object? What is the oldest book at PSU Academic Library? Which places relate to students’ superstitions in the exam time? Where and when may one visit the University museums? And, what are the ‘secret’ parts of campus to relax or work on group projects?

The UNI-Quest Tour for International Students has been launched at the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature. The tour participants will step in the shoes a cartographer, detective, linguist, actor and traveler – learning about the University history and modern campus line in a lively manner.

“While drilling the assessment task with the teacher of the Department of Linguistics and Translation, incorporating the experience of PSU History Museum, we have been thinking of bringing a fresh gulp of air into the student life. It is no secret that international students experience lack of such an involvement. Although they stay on campus for most of the time, we want them to them step beyond the usual dormitory-classroom routine, and show them more places for study, sports, creative activity and leisure. Moreover, that the amount of international students has increased,”

says Alexandra Kurennyh, a 3rd year student in Linguistics and Translation.

The Russian students urged to transform a common tour into a quest with interactive tasks. PSU Center for Youth Policy Projects suggested a few hints like a final picnic. Now, the tour program includes hacks on adapting to Russia, listening to the balalaika, enjoying pizza and other snacks, and ice-break activities.

According to PSU Department of International Relations, there are presently 492 foreign students from 31 countries at Perm State University, including preparatory courses. The students in Linguistics and Translation are going to contribute to their adaptation.

“As a relatively new form of learning activity, group projects help students use the language of study, combining their personal talents and ideas into a team work. In practice, the University benefits from such an interaction,too,”

comments Professor Boris Proskurnin, Dean of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU.

The UNI-Quest Tours for International Students have started on 23 June, 2022. For participation, please, contact Alexandra Kurennyh, Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature: akurennykh@inbox.ru

PSU and Mexican Students Join Efforts in Business Game

02.03.2022 / , , ,

PSU students in linguistics studying Spanish language will take part in a business game and project with the students in marketing from Universidad Anáhuac México (Mexico).

The project titled “Marketing Insights and Tropicalization: International Case Challenge” aims at generating, testing and promotion of product tropicalization on international markets. According to the Project Team, the study of English and Spanish languages appears through productive cultural and learning exchange experience – uniting international students’ teams.  

Tropicalization is the process of adapting product to a local context, a system, strategy or business solution to maximize income and profit.

For 2 months, students from Mexico, Columbia, Malaysia and Russia will act as ‘international experts’ to promote Mexican products on their national markets – researching about consumer interests and related info, proposing values and counting costs. As a result, partner teams will make a 5 mins video-pitch to propose a product to a new market, and post it in a Facebook Group.

According to Maria Khrustaleva, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Translation, PSU, “participation in a project with a Mexican university opens up the world of Spanish in Latin America for our students. Keeping in mind that Spanish is quite a diverse language, PSU students will be privileged to get acquainted with its original Mexican version.”

The students have already prepared video business cards of their cities and universities, and introduced themselves. Anastasia Valeeva, 3rd year student believes “communication with Mexican students will help benefit both linguistically and culturally, and all parties are looking forward to proceed.” This is surely a new experience for PSU students studying linguistics and translation.

On their way, both parties will be using English and Spanish languages. Following 3 days after the deadline, participants will enter the battle by debating and asking questions each other about those ideas stated in the video, and vote for the best idea. All participants will receive the certificates of participation and the winners will get an extra point.

Anna Sit’kova, a teacher of Linguistics and Translation, PSU, regards the Project as a unique opportunity to understand marketing and gain extra skills: “Not only does cross-cultural interaction allow to develop a large number of creative ideas and practical solutions into study methods, but also create favorable conditions for the exchange of culture and experience between students from Mexico and Russia.”

The Project participants include Perm State University (Russia), Universidad Anáhuac México (Mexico); University Teknologi Mara (Malaysia), Universidad Catolica de Oriente (Colombia).

The Universidad Anáhuac México is a private educational institution of higher learning in Mexico, located on two campuses: North Campus, in Huixquilucan de Degollado, and South Campus, in Mexico City.

The Anahuac University is currently ranked among the top 2% best universities around the world. The Anahuac University Network includes institutions in Mexico, United States, Chile, Spain, Italy and France.

Bearing its name from “near the water” in Nahuatl, the ancient Aztec language, Anáhuac used to be the biggest and most crowded place in Central America, what is now Mexico City, the home of the university. The university belongs to the Catholic religious congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.

Step Into Chinese New Year – Singing Song About a Snowflake!

02.02.2022 / , , , , , , , ,

Song Tianyao (China), a graduate of Perm State University has recorded an unusual congratulation on the Chinese New Year. (As a sleeve note: Song Tianyao has recently defended her PhD (candidate of sciences) thesis in philology at PSU, congratulations!). Today, singing the famous Snowflake Song, she addressed all those Chinese and international students interested in East Asian culture – wishing everyone a happy holiday:

“… The New Year’s on the way,

Will make your dream come true:

As long as snowflakes are not melting,

Don’t let the snowflakes keep on melting –

Until the clock tower ends the tune,

Until the clock tower ends the tune…”

For the Chinese people, the New Year is not just a change of dates, as it marks the start of spring and so blossoming of nature. The astrological sign of 2022 is the Tiger, who shows respect to beauty and people following it. While the Tiger prefers the red color, the tradition in general supports fires and loud noises, believed to scare evil forces away. On the night of 31 January to 1 February, fireworks were around the University campus – the Chinese students celebrating the entry into a new life cycle.

“I would like to congratulate all those Chinese students currently studying in Russia on the Spring Festival,” says Song Tianyao. “We all know the severe virus situation makes us hard to follow it. Yet, I believe together we can overcome this challenge.”

The holiday begins a week before the event itself – started with a general cleaning, for the Tiger loves clean houses and hardworking people. Despite the distance from their homeland, each student strives to decorate a hostel space with bright colors – using lanterns and symbols of the year as decor. Students call their parents, yet refrain from communal celebrations around a broad dinner table with dumplings:

“For me, this New Year is quite unusual, as I am celebrating it alone, trying to stay safe and escape the potential illness. With the completion of my studies, I am planning to get back to China, so I have to limit my social contacts,” Song Tianyao admits.

The Snowflake Song was first performed in “The Magicians” Soviet film in 1982 by Olga Rozhdestvenskaya and the Good Fellows band. Although not a holiday hit, it became a favorite choice among many later artists, from pop to punk – seeing several remakes in 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2016.

“I came into this song completely by accident. Immediately since I heard it, I liked it. Our New Year’s songs are not related to winter, as we have a different climate all across China. And, in some parts, like the South, we don’t have snow at all,” the Chinese graduate shares.

On her arrival back home, not only Song Tianyao will be able to chat with her family at a holiday dinner, set fireworks and make a traditional family photo; she will also launch a paper lantern, lifting a card with her wishes up into the skies. Meanwhile, Perm State University will remain in touch with her and other alumni, waiting for new students and hoping for a brighter new year.

For reference:

For three years, Song Tianyao has been working as an assistant for the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, PSU and teaching Chinese language to students of three faculties – Philology, Geography and Modern Foreign Languages and Literature. In December 2021, Song Tianyao defended her PhD (candidate of sciences) thesis on Artistic Reception of B. Vasiliev’s Military Prose in China.

In the academic year 2021-2022 at PSU, 28 people, including 22 foreigners (21 students from China and 1 native of Japan), are enrolled in the 1st year postgraduate course in Linguistics and Literary Studies – mostly due to another PSU alumnus from China, who currently teaches at the Chengdu Institute of the Sichuan University of Foreign Studies.
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