Russian is the first language of approximately 150 million people and
has long served as a lingua franca for millions more in the countries
of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, as well as Central Asia.
Here a just a few of the many reasons to study Russian.
Business.
Russia's re-entry into the world economic system has opened up an
enormous and largely unexploited market for western goods and services.
Russia possesses a well-educated work force and vast natural resources;
given these conditions, business opportunities in the region can only
increase over time. A large number of U.S. companies have already
established business relationships with Russia, and western European
firms are even more actively investing in the region.
Government, politics, and international relations.
Russia continues
to play a central role in global politics, and there are a wide variety
of career opportunities in both governmental and non-governmental organizations
for people with Russian language skills. The far-reaching changes in
the Russian government and society as a whole that began with the fall
of communism offer students of Russian an exciting opportunity to study
a nation in transition.
Different culture.
Studying a foreign language
offers a unique opportunity to experience another culture in depth.
Russia's position on the boundary between Europe and Asia and its unique
history have produced a complex and fascinating cultural environment,
and there are now many more opportunities than in the past to travel
there and experience this society first-hand. Knowledge of the Russian
language opens the door to the study of Russia's rich tradition of
literature, art, and music. And while studying Russian language and
culture is an intellectually stimulating and enriching experience in
itself, the cultural knowledge and understanding that can be gained
also have career implications. Most large employers in the U.S. are
international corporations that need employees who have the ability
to function successfully in foreign settings and to deal with their
international business partners. Even if you don't use your specific
knowledge of Russian, the cultural awareness you gain can easily transfer
to other situations and settings.
Door to other languages.
Russian belongs to the
Slavic group of languages,
which is divided into West Slavic (Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Sorbian),
South Slavic (Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, and Slovenian),
and
East Slavic (Russian, Ukrainian, and Belorussian). Learning Russian
opens the door of opportunity for facilitating the learning of other
Slavic languages, those spoken by a little over 300 million people from
Eastern Europe to Northern Asia. Take a moment to look a the map of
Slavic languages below (special thanks to Wikipedia).
