On 5 November 2024, the Russian Conversation Club of the JINR University Centre opened its doors. The first participants in the club are representatives from Vietnam, Egypt, India, China, Cuba, Mongolia, Romania, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. The informal opening ceremony of the club in lecture hall 481 of UC was attended by UC Director, Dmitry Kamanin, and the Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation, Elena Badawy.
“The club’s daily meetings will have a thematic focus. Topics will cover Russian etiquette and conversational norms, daily life in Russia and common situations, including Russian culture and traditions. In fact, the first steps for the club have already been taken. Meetings are held daily, lasting 90 minutes. Currently, 29 participants attend the sessions, and 5 groups have been formed. Club members practice speaking Russian, discuss current events, work in groups on creative tasks, and play board games. This helps to create a comfortable atmosphere. Our goal is to remove internal psychological barriers, activate speaking skills, and motivate the exclusive use of the Russian language in the sessions,” noted the club’s tutor, Lira Yarullina.
“The club is created as a platform for learning conversational Russian for all those arriving for extended periods, who wish to begin or improve in one of the Institute’s official working languages. Meetings at the club will undoubtedly help with social adaptation of representatives from different countries to JINR, to our welcoming town, and the host country. The Russian Conversation Club is a project that non-Russian staff have been eagerly awaiting which is why this event has been much anticipated,” said Dmitry Kamanin, wishing the tutor and club participants success in achieving their goals.
