Former participants share their experiences

Lisa, Estonian, Level 1, Notre Dame, SWSEEL 2006

I feel very lucky to have participated in SWSEEL, which has been an invaluable preparation for my year abroad in Estonia. SWSEEL/BALSSI provided a rare opportunity to study a language not often taught in American universities, in an environment of immersion that balanced intensive coursework with fun cultural events. I met wonderful people from a variety of language programs and fields of study. I would recommend SWSEEL to anyone interested in a serious and rewarding language program, set at a beautiful campus and led by fantastic administrators and instructors.

Nicole, Russian, Level 7, Georgetown, SWSEEL 2006

The SWSEEL Russian program provided an excellent opportunity for improving my language skills.  The faculty and staff were professional, approachable, and concerned about student progress.  The 8-week course helped me improve my grasp of Russian grammar, develop my own voice in both speaking and writing, and improve my listening comprehension.

Theresa, Polish, Level 1, Indiana University, SWSEEL 2005

SWSEEL was an amazing experience. I made friends from across the country and around the world. In addition to meeting amazing people, I was immersed in a unique academic environment – intense, but laid back; rigorous, but fun. I would recommend SWSEEL to anyone.

Neil, Russian, Level 9, Indiana University, SWSEEL 2004

SWSEEL was great! I learned so much from the coursework, outside events, and other students. Anna Arkad'evna was the best Russian teacher I've ever had. Anybody who wants to improve their Russian will benefit enormously from a summer at SWSEEL.

Geoffrey, Russian Level 2, Indiana University, SWSEEL 2003

I took Russian level 2 as a senior Criminal Justice undergraduate at IU. My experience with SWSEEL has been informative and intense, because not only is the class set up to learn the Russian language, but the program is organized so well that I had no choice but to learn. I am an Air Force ROTC student and I took the course in hopes that it would prepare me for learning Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey.

Meagan, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Level 1, SWSEEL 2005
Hungarian, Level 1, SWSEEL 2004

Because I plan to work throughout Southeastern Europe, I took Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian at SWSEEL. It was just what I needed. The daily grammar and conversation classes really prepared me to work and live in that part of the world. The extra evening lectures also helped me more fully understand and appreciate the cultures, history, and issues of that area. SWSEEL was the best thing I could have done to prepare me for my future endeavors.

Jessica, Russian Level 2, Florida State University,
SWSEEL 2003

Participating in SWSEEL was perhaps the best decision I have ever made in my academic career. The workshop greatly enhanced my Russian language skills in all components: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. I cannot imagine a better way to learn the language! I would not only recommend this program to others, but would insist that it is THE only way to truly learn the language. Daily classes coupled with cultural events give all students a truly foreign experience, incomparable to any other!

Susie, Polish, Level 1, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago. SWSEEL 2004

Professor Joanna Kurowska-Mlynarczyk is an excellent teacher in every way. Her ability to describe Polish in English terms is something I've never experienced in the four other languages I've studied. She welcomes questions from the basic and repetitive to the complicated - each is equally important. Always available, Joanna cares that we learn Polish for our research, our families, and ourselves. Because of our instruction in and out of the classroom - lunches, conversations, and emails - Joanna has made learning Polish more than just a language. Simply put, her persona and knowledge of all things Polish has made this a wonderful experience for me - one I'll never forget.

Stu, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 2, Indiana University. SWSEEL 2004

As a Ph.D. student and Associate Instructor in IU’s Slavic Studies department, I am in the unusual position of having been both a SWSEEL student and a SWSEEL instructor. I can honestly say that the program is a wonderful experience from both perspectives. As a student, I have enjoyed the luxury of concentrating on one subject and feeling my own skill develop; my SWSEEL instructors have been extraordinarily influential in my approach to language acquisition and in developing my own teaching skills. As an Instructor of Russian in SWSEEL 2002, I found it very fulfilling to devote myself to teaching intelligent, highly-motivated students in a long-established and extremely well-run summer program. It was genuinely gratifying to see the rate at which students’ language skills improve under the near-immersion conditions that SWSEEL affords them, and I have been delighted to see students from past workshops returning to the program and telling us their success stories. Also, I found that my fellow instructors were very committed to pedagogical excellence, which is reflected in the annual pedagogy workshop organized by the program.

Eric, Georgian, University of Texas at Austin, SWSEEL 2004

One of the best, out of only a handful of programs in the U.S. that teach Georgian, is at Indiana University in Bloomington. I had a wonderful time studying at IU. Dodona [Kiziria] has a way of presenting the information that is clear and to the point. Both she and her brother, Benito, are excellent and motivated teachers and if you have a chance, you should take advantage of this program.

Adalric, Azeri 1 and Azeri 2, Indiana University, SWSEEL 2003

I highly recommend to students interested in Azeri to take at least one year of Azeri through the SWSEEL program at Indiana University. I took both Azeri 1 and Azeri 2 and found both courses to be excellent. The language instructors are devoted and work well with students. Class size tends to be small so there is ample opportunity to work closely with instructors in a supportive and productive environment. The SWSEEL program also offers a lecture and event series that complements the language course well by bringing in, for example, lecturers who deal specifically with Azerbaijan and the Caucusus region. In short, studying Azeri at Indiana University is a positive experience that can only help students with improving their language skills and understanding of Azerbaijan.

Matt, Russian, Level 3, SWSEEL 2005
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Level 2, SWSEEL 2004

I am very satisfied with my experience here in that I have been able to learn Russian so well. I am very happy with our class and the material we are covering. The students are great, as are the teachers! Even more than that, SWSEEL is just a great place to get involved in Russian and other East European languages.

Dan, Czech, Indiana University, SWSEEL 2003

The SWSEEL program was invaluable in helping me make real progress with the language. Additionally, the small class size (only 5 students in all) meant that each of us received as much individualized attention as we needed. Our teacher, a native speaker and Czech university professor who has taught the language to foreigners for years, couldn't be more qualified or more capable. As for the results...before the workshop began, I was barely able to order a beer in Czech. Now, in the last weeks of the workshop, we have progressed to the point of writing and translating basic texts with relative ease and I am excited about the prospect of continuing my studies.

Michael, Russian Level 3, Ohio University, SWSEEL 2003

The grammar classes were excellent, thanks to my wonderful teacher Galina Krivonos. All the current grammar was then targeted and developed in the conversation class with my equally wonderful conversation teacher, Masha Alley. I don't think I could have asked for a better Russian phonetician than for Mr. Larry Richter. You will have to enroll in the program in order to come to love and appreciate Mr. Richter's beloved phonetic phrase..."the incipient smile of palatalization!" I have improved by leaps and bounds...now...I, like everyone else, want to go to Russia for the full time experience!

Andria Wisler, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Teachers College, Columbia University, SWSEEL 2003

The strength of the SWSEEL program lies in the experience, excellent pedagogical skills, and motivational influence of the professors teaching the courses. Professor Rakic had a sincere interest in our learning the first year fundamentals of Serbo-Croatian. He fluidly alternated between Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian, allowing each student to specialize in one of the three. His confidence in our progress was constant and valuable during the frustrating moments that accompany the learning of any language in such a concentrated time span.