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Vision
UCLA Russian Flagship is helping students make language gains once thought to be unattainable. We are implementing groundbreaking models of language learning and providing the training and experience necessary to communicate effectively across cultures.
History
The UCLA Russian Flagship was one of the three original Russian programs funded by The Language Flagship, a federally-funded initiative to revolutionize the way Americans learn languages by offering a rigorous, articulated program leading to professional-level proficiency in a critical language. At its onset in 2006, the Language Flagship sponsored programs for Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese. Now, there is a network of 31 Flagship Programs at 23 institutions of higher education across the U.S. for Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish. Eight of those programs are for Russian. The Language Flagship not only funds the UCLA Russian Flagship, but provides a community of language-learning through Flagship-wide connections, resources and events.
UCLA Professor Olga Kagan was largely responsible for the creation of the UCLA Flagship curriculum. At that time, Professor Olga Kagan, Dr. Russell Campbell of Applied Linguistics and others at UCLA were pioneering the Heritage language programs, with Olga specializing in Russian. This innovative language research project made UCLA a natural site for a Russian Flagship program, and Olga was instrumental in the Language Flagship’s decision to include Russian in its original four languages. Olga’s work in heritage language studies was informed by her vision for language study for all students: that language can be a medium for discovering the world and oneself, as well as a job and academic skill. That vision is also the guiding principle of UCLA Russian Flagship Center.
Impact
By offering pathways to create connections between Russian and any major, UCLA Russian Flagship empowers students to achieve professional-level language proficiency and advanced cultural skills. Flagship is equipping the next generation of courageous global professionals to lead with empathy and intercultural understanding.
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Tyler: How does Flagship interrelate with your professional/career development?
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Leanna: How does Flagship interrelate with your professional/career development?
Location
With the second largest Russian population in the US (second only to Brighton Beach), Los Angeles is a great place to study Russian. The Russian-speaking communities are concentrated in West Hollywood San Fernando Valley. While studying Russian at UCLA, you can immerse yourself in the language by checking out the local Russian stores, restaurants, spas and bookstores.