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“We Are”: Perm-Based International Students Celebrate Cultures at PSU

On November 17, Perm State University hosted for the “We Are” Inter-University Festival of International Students – uniting international students from

35 contestants from 10 countries of the world performed at the Festival, supported by 200 natives and many more Russian friends – 13 group advisers, 60 volunteers, as well as representatives from 7 Perm-based universities: Perm State Medical University, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy, Higher School of Economics, Perm Branch, Perm State Institute of Culture, Perm State Agro-Technological University and Perm State University.

The Festival program included a recognition of the brightest international students of Perm, the Cultural Fair, the Sport Together barrier line, the World Cuisines culinary battle, the Graffiti Walls art stage, and the final live performance, followed by a friendly tea party. The Festival guests relaxed in a Creativity Space – practicing art therapy, creating a multicolored patchwork of sketches and prints.

The Cultural Fair united PSU Center of Foreign Culture,  PSU Students’ Media Center, PSU Students’ Eco Council, PSU Student Teams, Perm Regional Center for Foreign Students (at the Ministry of Education and Science of Perm krai), the All-Russian Civil Movement “Medical Volunteers” in Perm krai.

On the day of the Festival, a culinary battle took place: having received recipes and products, the participants were challenged to cook dishes of various cuisines of the world — from okroshka to bruschetta — as part of international teams. The winners became a united team of students from China, Turkmenistan and India from three Perm universities  – presenting their variation of the Japanese sushi.

According to Diana Kipyatkova, the Festival organizer at PSU, ‘We Are’ appears the brightest and most unusual venue in Perm, second to none, a palletful of colors, national costumes and languages, a virtual trip around the world. Having uniting the universities of the city, the Festival gives an opportunity to see foreign students not only as representatives of cultures, but as personal talents:

“We hope all the participants felt the friendly atmosphere of the Festival, and passed its vibe further on. This is the place to meet real friends and join a wider student community – getting to know oneself, sharing national culture, growing individually and most importantly, enjoying the moment!”

Mohammed Al Lami (Iraq), student of the Faculty of Geography and a graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry, PSU, shares his sparkle:

“This is the most amazing festival! Last time I was an organizer and presenter, it was a wonderful experience. A lot of people and positive emotions are what remained in the memory. This year I expect even more interesting activities, bright colors, people. I’m sure it will be fun!”

Jakkapob Dach-In (Thailand), a student of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, recollects:

“In 2018, I went on stage to talk about life in Russia as a foreigner. I remember there were a lot of international students from all over Perm. Some shared their experience of living here, some performed, singing or dancing. This year I am gladly broadening my vision of that.”

According to “We Are” organizers, the goal of the Festival is to help international students adapt to the Russian student community – involving them into student associations, creating positive atmosphere in hostels, initiating new international projects. For the Russian students, it is an opportunity to practice foreign languages ​​with native speakers, with foreigners experiencing less language gaps.

International Linguists Discuss Teaching Practices

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 Celebrates International Translation Day

Students and teaching staff of the Department of Linguistics and Translation, Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU, have celebrated International Translation Day.

For the Faculty, the 2021-2022 academic year had been fruitful in achievements and events. The Faculty students became winners in international translation competitions and language contests, research,  international projects with Mexico and Spain, translation volunteering and inclusive training at the University of Grenoble-Alpes (France).

The Department of Linguistics and Translation is recently teaching about 400 undergraduate and graduate students in Linguistics, as well as in Translation and Translation Studies. At the holiday, the Faculty announced best students in studies, social activity and translation achievements. Partners from and PSU alumni studying in Spain, Mexico and France shared their video greetings. Video ‘cards’ and creative performances by PSU first-year students topped the holiday celebration.   

The holiday also marked joint research projects by 4th year students in Linguistics and Translation, announcing the prize winner project – a multilingual website for PSU Situation Center, containing info on PSU values, student life, hostels, social and library services, psychological assistance and safety, as well as feedback, all using Russian, English, Chinese and Turkmen languages.

International Translation Day is an international day to recognize translation professionals. Celebrated on 30 September, introduced by the UN General Assembly resolution in 2017, the holiday is linked to St. Jerome, the Bible translator, considered historically as a patron of translators. The day expresses solidarity with the worldwide translation community and translation profession that has become increasingly essential in the era of globalization.

Dr. Boris Proskurnin Becomes PSU Distinguished Professor

PSU Academic Council has awarded the title of Honored Professor of Perm State University to Dr. Boris Proskurnin, Head of the Department of World Literature and Culture, Doctor of Philology, Professor.

For more than 50 years, Dr. Boris Proskurnin has been contributing to PSU progress – starting as a student and a fellow assistant, and reaching the professor and Doctor of Sciences status, devoting most of his life to alma mater. His biography covers building the University literally, as part of a student construction team, as well as a running PSU Student Club (1973-1976). Combining research and teaching activity with the Head of the Department of Foreign Literature post, Dr. Boris Proskurnin also headed PSU International Department (1999-2003) and PSU Methodological Council (1998-2003).

Dr. Boris Proskurnin is among key researchers of Victorian literature in Russia, and an expert on Anthony Trollope (1815-1882). His name is associated with the first contacts with the University of Oxford, contributing to growing sister city relations of Perm and Oxford. For almost twenty years, Dr. Boris Proskurnin served as a Dean of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages ​​and Literature. Thanks to his personal strive and the team he led, PSU gained new prospects fruited in solid national and internationally recognized projects.

Since 2002, the title of Distinguished Professor has been awarded to professors who have made a significant contribution to Perm State University progress. At the present moment, 27 names of prominent scholars are listed in the Book of Distinguished Professors, stored at the Museum of Perm State University History.

PSU Philologists Contribute to Academic Library Collections, Create New Reading Space

On 1 September, at the start of the study year ‘2022-2023, PSU Academic Library opened a new reading and interactive space, uniting its collections with the contributions by the Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU.

The new branch unites sources on foreign and Russian languages, linguistics, literature, teaching, publishing activity, journalism and public relations. Most of publications are presented in a single copy. PSU international students interested in Russian literature will also find the Library collection useful, getting a handful advice by the Library staff. 

“While creating a new Library space, we have been following those wishes of teachers and students of the Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature. The collection will include both by books from other Library sections and newly acquired items. It is important that the Library acts as a space of meaning, combining information sources and a professional approach with a cozy environment and friendly atmosphere of the native ground,”

says Svetlana Solareva, Head of PSU Academic Library.

Among the contributors to the Library branch is the only Victorian Center in Russia, founded in Perm with an assistance by Anglists from Oxford (UK), Stanford and Indianapolis (USA), including Dr. Christopher Harvey, a well-known British expert in English and Scottish history and literature, professor at the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen (Germany).

“Since the launch of the Victorian Center in 1997, we have managed to form a unique collection of books, magazines and materials, starting with British pre-Romantic period (end of the 18th century) to late Victorianism (the beginning of the 20th century), as well as publications on the theory and history of English literature, as well as social and political history of Britain in the Victorian period. The Cente has been subscribed to a number of English and American scientific journals specializing in British literature and culture of the time. The Center co-founder was Mrs. Karen Hewitt, PSU Professor Emeritus from the University of Oxford (UK). Karen strongly supported the idea of ​​passing the Victorian Center collection to the newly opened PSU Library space,”

says Dr. Boris Proskurnin, Head of the Department of World Literature and Culture, PSU.

The collection will available through an open access. In addition, readers might enjoy the opportunity of hiring a book overnight, on weekends or holidays. The branch is headed by Maria Bryukhanova, a graduate of the Faculty of Philology, and a fellow at the Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Folklore Studies, PSU. Maria has already introduced freshmen into the Library collection.

“We are very pleased to have a new library space in our building, where students are able to get acquainted with dedicated academic literature, engage in educational and scientific research. We hope to most effectively fit it into the educational and scientific activities of our staff and students,”

comments Daria Pavlova, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Faculty of Philology, PSU.

To see the new PSU Academic Library branch, please visit PSU building 5, rooms 140, 142, 144 (Faculty of Philology, Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU.

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

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

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”

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

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 Linguist Wins Volga Federal District Translation Competition

Maria Erypalova, 4th year student of the Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, PSU, has won the translation competition “All the Best About Russia”. The competition was dedicated to the 115th Anniversary of Academic Dmitry Likhachev. Maria took the 1st place in the French section.

Summing up the results of the competition, Zugura Rakhmatullina, Director of the Institute of History, Language and Literature, Ural Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of developing cross-cultural competences through translation activity, as well as translator’s role in promotion of cultural and spiritual Russian heritage.

The young translators in English, German or French coming from all over Volga Federal District were asked to translate excerpts from the “Notes on Russian” by Likhachev. Extracted from hisnotebooks, far beyond ‘pure science’, Likhachev’s notes had been united by a core theme of Russia’s historical past and future – revealing an outstanding scientist and true citizen behind the author’s figure.

“In the passage offered for the translation, I found each minor detail so exciting! To start with, this was the first time I translated from my native language into foreign one. The text was also quite specific, dealing with discoveries by a French translator in relation to specifically Russian concepts of nature and kindness,” Maria Erypalova shares her impression. “Following the task, I once again became convinced of the versatility of the Russian language – and its complexity. Natalya Khorosheva, my teacher and mentor, who supervised my translation, helped me a lot with the lyrics passages.”

“Maria is one of the brightest students at our Department. She does indeed feel the text very subtly, and has a deep understanding of the core tasks of translation. Her winner’s record in translation competitions, including international ones, clearly shows that,” says Natalia Khorosheva, Head of the Department of Linguistics and Translation, PSU. “In Maria’s success, I see a combination of proficiency in translation and personal traits – such as natural attention to details and passionate, playful look at things.  As a tutor, I do my best to make students discover such qualities they might be unaware about, and progress further in both profession and personal life, through the practice of languages.”

In September 2021, Maria Erypalova was among the students who studied at the University of Grenoble-Alpes (France) as part of the international academic mobility program. In France, PSU students mastered the art of translation, combined with courses in history of literature and culture.

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