International Winter Language Camp

   SIBERIAN WONDERLAND Winter Language Camp is an educational multi-cultural program that our Educational Center "Cosmopolitan" runs in a picturesque area outside of the city of Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia, from January 3rd until January 12th with participation of the Russian schoolchildren, youth and adults, and volunteer teachers and international students from around the globe.

  The arrival date is January 3rd.

For the past few years volunteer teachers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Fiji, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States of America, as well as university students and school children from the USA, Great Britain, Greece, and Germany have participated in our programs.

Our WINTER CAMP is a unique opportunity to celebrate the coolest festive season in Siberia with lots of exciting events, and experience all the winter fun you have ever dreamed of in ten days. Too many things are separating us around the world. At the same time, festival traditions and customs, ceremonies and holidays are an integral part of every culture of the world, demonstrating that despite linguistic, cultural, and ethnic differences, people from around the globe share the same hopes, dreams, interests and concerns.

The winter camp program combines language instruction (English, German, French, etc., for local Russian students, and RUSSIAN for overseas students and volunteer teachers) with organized activities (arts and crafts projects, workshops, music and drama, games and contests, art and drawing, inventive engaging performances and shows, sports and outdoor activities, excursions).

The program is a great chance for international participants to learn the Russian language and get a first-hand experience of the Russian culture. It provides the unique cultural opportunity of daily interaction with the Russian children, youth and adults. The RUSSIAN COURSE is organized for overseas students and volunteer teachers and includes language studies as well as learning about the Russian culture, history and society.

We are looking for native speakers of English, German, French, Spanish and other languages, who would like to be VOLUNTEER TEACHERS of their language and/or VOLUNTEER CREATIVITY WORKSHOP COORDINATORS at our winter language camp. No previous teaching experience is required. University students are eligible to apply as volunteer teachers/creativity workshop coordinators. We are looking for people who are energetic, enthusiastic, open-minded, sociable, enjoy camp experiences, are willing to share their knowledge and culture.

We also seek people worldwide who are interested in the Russian language and culture (middle school through university STUDENTS, and ADULTS) and would like to participate in our Winter Language Camp as INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS of the Russian course. 

International students of the Russian course have 5 Russian language classes daily, except excursion days, in the morning. In the afternoon the students can choose to attend a Creativity Workshop, which is related to some aspect of the Russian culture and arts and involves some creative activity (dancing, singing, acting, drawing, arts and crafts, poetry, etc.), or participate in the "Live and Learn" Intercultural Conversational Russian Sessions, which take place outside of the classroom.

Volunteer teachers attend 3 Russian classes per day, except excursion days. 40-minute Russian classes are scheduled from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., in groups according to the teachers' levels of Russian.

A typical day at the camp is scheduled as follows:

9:30 a.m. Breakfast

10:00 a.m. Classes (English/French/German/Russian language studies): 5

lessons 35 minutes each with 5-minute breaks 

1:30 p.m. Lunch

2:30 p.m. Creativity Workshops

3:30 p.m. Activities for students

4:00 p.m. Snack

4:30 p.m. Russian classes for volunteer teachers (3 lessons 40 minutes each)

Activities for students

7:00 p.m. Dinner

8:30 p.m. Entertaining evening activity (show/performance/contest/party,

etc.)

9:30 p.m. Disco.

The camp lives a full cultural and social life. Every day various entertaining competitions, shows, performances, presentations and discos are scheduled within the camp program. Social outings (traditional Russian sauna - banya, barbecue, socializing and meetings in local communities, etc.) are scheduled for international students being an extraordinarily
enriching experience. One of the highlights of the Winter Camp is the RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS celebration (January 7th). On completion of the session, excursions to other historically and culturally important destinations can be organized.


VOLUNTEER TEACHERS' and INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITES:
- Roundtrip airfare to Novosibirsk.
- Obtaining the Russian visa and visa fees.
- Participation fee, which covers accommodation, meals, local transportation, exciting cultural program, excursions, etc.


PROGRAM FEATURES

- Accommodation and full board (3 meals a day + a snack) in a recreational center facility which provides rooms, classrooms, recreational facilities.

- 5 classes of Russian daily for international students, 3 classes of Russian daily for volunteer teachers, classes are taught by well-educated native speakers trained to teach foreigners.

- Exciting cultural and recreational program: contests and competitions, shows, performances, disco, etc.

- Sports and outdoor winter activities.

- Excursion program: a guided tour of the largest Siberian city of Novosibirsk.

- Transportation from/to the local airport in Novosibirsk.

- Visa support (letter of invitation and registration upon arrival).

Airfare, visa fee, medical insurance, pocket money are not included in the participation fee and should also be paid by international participants. Of course we realize that this program involves large financial investments of the foreign participants in terms of the airfare and the participation fee with no compensation on our end. You should understand that this is a
non-profit self-supported project, and the participation fee goes to cover the expenses on accommodation, meals, excursions, local transportation, tuition, cultural program, etc. for our international participants. It's still considerably less expensive than a regular tour with a travel agency would cost, but provides a lot more exciting opportunities to experience the culture,
learn the language, interact with people, share professional knowledge and moral values.

We highly appreciate the valuable contribution to our program that all our international participants make. We always make sure that everyone is fully satisfied and pleased with the visit. Our goal is that you have the most enjoyable and worthwhile experience possible during your stay with us.


With lots of exciting activities to keep you cool outside and just as much entertainment to keep you warmed up inside, you will find that our "SIBERIAN WONDERLAND" Winter Camp is a perfect place to spend your winter break!

 

 

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