Cultural Facts Language Preview Hear from our students Program Info
The Critical Languages Institute is a national training institute for less commonly taught languages, offering summer intensive courses and study-abroad programs around the world.
Every summer, CLI brings students from across the U.S. together to develop their linguistic and cultural competency rapidly and effectively through intensive immersion programs. Explore the tabs above to learn more about the Russian course offerings at CLI.
Dive into the Language
Population:
Spoken by over 250,000,000 people
Vibrant Celebrations:
New Year's Day (Новый Год): Mostly viewed as the most celebrated holiday in Russia.
Defender of the Fatherland Day (День защитника Отечества): A day to honor the veterans of the Red Army.
International Women’s Day (Международный женский день): This holiday is widely celebrated for women and their achievements.
The Russian alphabet has:
33 letters
21 consonants
10 vowels
2 semi-vowels
Popular Russian Art
Khokhloma is a traditional Russian folk art known for its hand-painted wooden items, decorated with intricate floral and berry patterns in vibrant red, gold, and black. Originating in the 17th century, Khokhloma is widely used in Russian culture for both decorative household items and as a symbol of national craftsmanship, reflecting the country’s rich artistic heritage.
Cultural Symbols
Russia’s iconic cultural symbols include Matryoshka dolls, representing family, and St. Basil’s Cathedral, known for its colorful domes. The samovar, a traditional tea kettle, symbolizes hospitality in Russian social life.
Savor the Flavors
Russian cuisine is known for its hearty and flavorful dishes like borscht, a vibrant beet soup, and pelmeni, savory meat-filled dumplings. Other iconic staples include blini, thin pancakes often served with caviar or sour cream, and Olivier salad, a creamy potato salad that's a must-have at festive gatherings.
Language Preview
"How are you?"
Kak dela?
Как дела?
"Have a nice day!"
Khoroshego dnya
Хорошего дня
"Good Morning"
Dobroye utro
Доброе утро
Hear from our students
Location of Language
Russian, an East Slavic language, has significantly influenced the cultures of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Arctic regions. The language serves as an official language in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan; and is recognized as a minority language in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet states.
Program Information
Course Options
First-year Russian provides beginners a solid introduction to Russian grammar and conversation. Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Novice High or Intermediate Low.
Dates: Online: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
Students will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Russian, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.
The program introduces Russian culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Russian and structured interactions with Russian speakers.
First-year Russian combines 4.5 hours a day of classroom instruction (160 contact hours) as well as daily informal activities in Russian led by facilitators representing Russian-speaking communities from around the world.
Number of Credits: 10
Program Fee: $2,000
First-year Russian students enrolled in this program introductory course will immerse themselves in Russian culture while strengthening their mastery of the language through specially designed courses and extramural activities.
Dates: Online: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
Bishkek: July 14 - August 8, 2025
Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, is a city of 1 million, situated at the base of the Tian Shan mountains. The city is multiethnic, home to Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, and Russians. The primary language is Russian, although Kyrgyz is also spoken widely. Renowned for its tree-lined streets and its network of gravity-fed glacier-water canals, Bishkek is considered one of the greenest cities in the world. Modern Bishkek is a very youthful city, with an active cafe and university culture.
The 4-week extension in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic offers an extensive program of extramural activities. Most are conducted in one-on-one or small group formats with local activity guides. All activities are conducted in Russian.
- Daily conversation practice
- Twice-weekly small-group activities, tied to classroom topics
- Museum visits (small group activity)
- Cooking classes
- Craft classes
- Shopping and bartering lessons
- Weekend trip to Talas and the Manas Ordo mausoleum
- Weekend trip to the Ala Archa gorge
- Weekend trip to Barskoon
CLI's program in Bishkek is managed jointly by Arizona State University and the School of Russian and Asian Studies. Classes are conducted at the London School of Bishkek.
Program Fee
The Tempe program fee of $2,000 and 4-week extension program fee of $5,100* covers:
- 160 hours of online and 60 hours of abroad performance-based classroom instruction
- 13 academic credits (10 for online sessions + 3 for study abroad session)
- online talks, excursions, and cultural activities
- 4 weeks housing in a homestay
- breakfast/dinner with host family
- pre-departure orientation
- arrival orientation
- insurance
- local phone and SIM card
- transport to and from Manas International Airport (FRU)
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- lunches
- meals outside of the homestay
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Students will solidify their command of Russian and raise their listening, speaking, and communicative skills to the Intermediate Low level or better. Graduates can interact in day-to-day life in Russian comfortably and read texts on familiar topics with ease.
Dates: Online: May 27 - July 11, 2025 (May 26, July 4 Holiday)
The program explores Russian culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Russian and structured interactions with Russian speakers.
Second-year Russian combines 4.5 hours a day of classroom instruction (total 160 hours) as well daily informal activities in Russian led by facilitators representing Russian-speaking communities from around the world.
Number of Credits: 10
Program Fee: $2,000
Students will solidify their command of Russian and raise their listening, speaking, and communicative skills to the Intermediate Low level or better. Graduates can interact in day-to-day life in Russian comfortably and read texts on familiar topics with ease.
Dates: Bishkek: June 16 - August 8, 2025
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyz Republic, is a city of 1 million, situated at the base of the Tian Shan mountains. The city is multiethnic, home to Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, and Russians. The primary language is Russian, although Kyrgyz is also spoken widely. Renowned for its tree-lined streets and its network of gravity-fed glacier-water canals, Bishkek is considered one of the greenest cities in the world. Modern Bishkek is a very youthful city, with an active cafe and university culture.
The second-year program in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic offers an extensive program of extramural activities. Most are conducted in one-on-one or small group formats with local activity guides. All activities are conducted in Russian.
- 160 hours performance-based classroom instruction
- Daily conversation practice
- Twice-weekly small-group activities, tied to classroom topics
- Museum visits (small group activity)
- Cooking classes
- Craft classes
- Shopping and bartering lessons
- Weekend trip to Talas and the Manas Ordo mausoleum
- Weekend trip to the Ala Archa gorge
- Weekend trip to Barskoon
CLI's program in Bishkek is managed jointly by Arizona State University and the School of Russian and Asian Studies. Classes are conducted at the London School of Bishkek.
Program Fee
The Bishkek program fee of $8,000* covers:
- 160 hours of performance-based classroom instruction
- 10 academic credits
- online talks, excursions, and cultural activities
- 8 weeks housing in a homestay
- breakfast/dinner with host family
- pre-departure orientation
- arrival orienation
- phone and phone card
- transport to and from Manas International Airport (FRU)
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- food outside of the homestay
- lunches
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Third-year Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Students will solidify their command of Russian and raise their listening, speaking, and communicative skills to the Intermediate Mid level or better. Graduates can interact in day-to-day life in Russian comfortably and read texts on familiar topics with ease.
Dates: Bishkek: June 16 - August 8, 2025
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyz Republic, is a city of 1 million, situated at the base of the Tian Shan mountains. The city is multiethnic, home to Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, and Russians. The primary language is Russian, although Kyrgyz is also spoken widely. Renowned for its tree-lined streets and its network of gravity-fed glacier-water canals, Bishkek is considered one of the greenest cities in the world. Modern Bishkek is a very youthful city, with an active cafe and university culture.
The third-year program in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic offers an extensive program of extramural activities. Most are conducted in one-on-one or small group formats with local activity guides. All activities are conducted in Russian.
- Daily conversation practice
- Twice-weekly small-group activities, tied to classroom topics
- Museum visits (small group activity)
- Cooking classes
- Craft classes
- Shopping and bartering lessons
- Weekend trip to Talas and the Manas Ordo mausoleum
- Weekend trip to the Ala Archa gorge
- Weekend trip to Barskoon
CLI's program in Bishkek is managed jointly by Arizona State University and the School of Russian and Asian Studies. Classes are conducted at the London School of Bishkek.
Program Fee
The Bishkek program fee of $8,000* covers:
- 140 hours of performance-based classroom instruction
- 8 academic credits
- online talks, excursions, and cultural activities
- 8 weeks housing in a homestay
- breakfast/dinner with host family
- pre-departure orientation
- arrival orientation
- local phone and SIM card
- transport to and from Manas International Airport (FRU)
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- food outside of the homestay
- lunches
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Students will solidify their command of Russian vocabulary, grammar and spelling, and develop advanced listening, reading, conversational, and composition skills.
Dates: June 16 - August 15, 2025 (June 20-24 midsummer holiday)
Daugavpils, Latvia is the largest Russian speaking community in the European Union. With a population of 93,000, Latvia's second-largest city boasts a blend of cultures and religions and rich military history within a charming European setting. Students will study at Learn Russian in the European Union for 9 weeks and work to improve their proficiency to advanced levels. More info here.
Cultural and Extracurricular activities include:
- Riga Old Town, Jugendstil, Salaspils Memorial
- Traditional cooking in Dviete Ethnographic site
- Celebrating Ligo
- Old Believers ethnographic site
- International Festival of the Military Historical Reconstruction
- Music classes
- Daugavpils Synagogue and Jewish history museum
- Basillica of Aglona, Kraslava crafts center clay workshop
- Overnight excursion to Zhanis Lipke Memorial, Jurmala resort, Holocaust memorial in Rumbula forest, and Rundale Palace
- Program final event including banya, buffet, and outdoor activities
Program Fee:
The Daugavpils program fee of $8,000* covers:
- 150 hours of performance-based classroom instruction
- 8 academic credits
- 24 hours of culture and area studies instruction in Russian adapted for students' fluency
- 16 hours of language tutoring
- 60 hours of guide-led enrichment activities
- 9 weeks of housing in a homestay
- breakfast and dinner with host family
- transport to and from Riga International Airport
- one night in a Riga hotel before driving to Daugavpils
- traveler's insurance
It does not include:
- international travel
- food outside of the homestay
- lunches
- personal expenses
*All prices and descriptions on this page are subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts
Funding Options
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships
The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. Eligible students apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has received an allocation of fellowships from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Melikian Center offers both academic year and summer-length FLAS Fellowships. The application for both Academic year and Summer 2025 FLAS Fellowships will close on January 31st, 2025.
The Summer 2025 Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) provides eligible students with a $3,500 stipend and $5,000 in tuition during the Summer 2025 semester for funding intermediate and/or intensive study of Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Kazakh, Macedonian, Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Tatar, Turkish, Ukrainian, or Uzbek domestically or abroad.
Melikian Center Awards Program
Supported by the Melikian Center's endowment and by private donations, the Melikian Center Awards Program provides scholarships of up to $2,000 for superior applicants to study critical languages at CLI's domestic programs and up to $6,000 towards CLI's study abroad offerings.
This funding opportunity is open to all CLI applicants. High school, community college, and non-students are especially encouraged to apply.
An application for this funding is included in every CLI Language Program application.
Need-Based Fee Reduction
The Melikian Center offers up to a $1,000 reduction of the published CLI program fee for qualified Pell Grant eligible students and non-students with an annual family income of $50,000 or less. This $1,000 reduction applies to online, online plus study-abroad, or study-abroad programs. Please note that a limited number of fee reductions are available; not all students who apply will receive a need-based fee reduction.
To qualify for this funding opportunity, please indicate your Pell Grant eligibility on your general CLI program application.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The State Department's Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000 for students in financial need to study abroad, including in CLI overseas programs. Gilman applications require certification of the program by your institution's study-abroad office. If you apply for Gilman support, please contact cli@asu.edu for assistance in getting the required information to your institution.
Gilman summer study applications are accepted from August to October and January to March. Students interested in this opportunity should apply for the early competition, if possible, since applicants to the later competition will not learn their award status until after the deadline to commit to CLI study. Please contact cli@asu.edu for details on timing your Gilman application.
An external application is required to apply for this funding opportunity.
Title VIII Graduate Awards
The Department of State's Title VIII program funds graduate students with U.S. citizenship to study less commonly taught languages.
Students who apply for an online-only program may receive up to $5,500. Students who apply for an online program with a 4-week abroad extension may receive up to $10,500. Students who apply for an 8-week study abroad program through CLI may receive up to $10,500.
Past CLI Title VIII fellows can be awarded the fellowship up to two more times, for a maximum of up to 3 fellowship awards, as long as they maintain their graduate student eligibility.
