Language Studies While in Graduate School
I'm writing this blog post from my dorm
room in Podgorica, Montenegro! Podgorica is a gorgeous city full of contrasts -
crumbling socialist Yugoslavia-style architecture against a background of
gorgeous mountains. It's very different from Zagreb, Croatia (where I studied
three summers ago), which reminded me a lot of Pittsburgh. Podgorica is like no
city I've ever been to, and I hope to describe it in more detail once I've been
here longer than a week.
Now that I'm taking a break from my
internship to immerse myself in a new culture, I figure this will be a good
chance to discuss language study while in graduate school. Trying to fit a language study into your schedule can be a challenge; however, I truly believe
language study is worth the extra time and effort. Here are some ways I've made
language study easier for myself:
The FLAS!
During my first year at GSPIA I was on a
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) from the US Department of
Education. The FLAS is a government fellowship available in a number of areas
and languages. To apply, your university must have a designated National
Resource Center (NRC) in your chosen language group. For the 2010-2013 grant
period (NRC status is renewed every four years), Pitt had NRCs in Latin American,
International, and Russian/East Europe/Eurasian studies. The fellowship pays
full tuition plus a sizable living stipend (mine was $18,000) for language and
area studies in your chosen language. If Pitt offers a FLAS in a language you
are interested in, I highly recommend applying! Applications usually go out
around December for the following academic year.
Summer Study Abroad and the Summer
Language Institute!
Studying abroad is a great way to learn
or improve your language skills. If you want to focus on language studies, the
Summer Language Institute (SLI) is a great time-saving option for learning
Russian/East European/near East languages - you can take two semesters-worth of
language instruction in 6-8 weeks! These courses are intense (5 hours a day, 5
days a week, 6-8 weeks long), but highly effective and a perfect option for
students who cannot fit language study into their academic year course
schedule. In addition, SLI offers month-long study abroad language courses in
several different cities - I'm currently doing four weeks of intensive
Montenegrin (or BCMS) in Podgorica. I also need to note that this is my third
summer spent participating in an SLI program - a testimony to the awesomeness
of SLI.
Overall language study in graduate
school, while not easy, is not as difficult as it seems. The resources are out
there if you search for them. Here are links to information about the resources
I've talked about - the FLAS (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsflasf/index.html)
and SLI (http://www.slavic.pitt.edu/node/243).
Until next time!
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| The view of Podgorica from my dorm |
