Name: Coleman Maberry
E-mail: Coleman.W.Maberry.1@nd.edu
Language: Russian
Location of Study: St. Petersburg, Russia
Program of Study: School of Russian and Asian Studies
Sponsors: Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures and Nanovic Institute of European Studies
Blog URL: http://sites.nd.edu/sla2017/author/coleman-w-maberry-1nd-edu/
A brief personal bio:
I am a sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Anthropology and Classics and minoring in Russian. I have always taken a keen interest in language, and I am a passionate musician and member of the ND Chorale and Symphony. I have been abroad to various countries in Europe and the Caribbean, but never Russia. I am currently trying out to be the Leprechaun, and I try to represent Notre Dame in all that I do.
Why this summer language abroad opportunity is important to me:
For as long as I have thought about college, I have wanted to study abroad. During my freshman year, upon choosing to study Russian, I instantly knew that I wish to visit and learn in Russia. The SLA Grant will afford me the opportunity to further my Russian study and attain a minor. This intensive program will allow me to approach both linguistic and cultural fluency. In addition to the academic improvement in my knowledge of Russian, the Grant will also open the doors for my intended career in international relations. This sort of immersion will greatly improve both my qualifications as a job candidate and my ability to effectively act in such a position.
What I hope to achieve as a result of this summer study abroad experience:
Primarily, I hope to improve my Russian abilities to an advanced level, especially with regards to conversational fluency. Beyond that academic goal, I hope to have an experience that will benefit me as a productive citizen of the world. A program like this has the potential to shape my understanding of Russian culture and the broader culture of the world. As an Anthropology major, I seek to understand the human experience. Immersion in a foreign culture different in many ways from our own will help gain me a perspective unattainable in classroom studies in America. Lastly, I want to have an experience which will be as enjoyable as it is enlightening. I would like to make friendships with fellow students from across the globe while taking advantage of the beautiful city and country surrounding me.
My specific learning goals for language and intercultural learning this summer:
1. At the end of the summer, I will be able to maintain a conversation in Russian about daily topics, questions of U.S.-Russia relations, and other academic issues.
2. At the end of the summer, I will be able to speak about Russian culture and relations with the U.S. from both an American and Russian perspective.
3. At the end of the summer, I will be able to read and engage with advanced Russian texts including such examples as Dostoevsky and contemporary scholarship.
4. At the end of the summer, I will be able to write, read, speak, and understand in Russian at a level equivalent to 4 semesters of study at Notre Dame.
5. At the end of the summer, I will be able to understand my own experience in life and what it means to be human at a deeper level than would be possible without foreign immersion.
My plan for maximizing my international language learning experience: