Autumn school for foreign students «Sailing East 2019» in VSUES ended with making of Russian traditional toys
September 1-8 VSUES hosted a delegation of students from Tottori University of Environmental Studies, Japan for educational program of the Autumn School on Russian Language and Culture «Sailing East – 2019. This was the fifth visit of students from this partner-university of VSUES for a short-term cultural exchange program.
The educational program of the school was designed so that Japanese students could immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Russian culture and traditions and learn about Russian history and Primorsky Krai. All week, the students learnt Russian language, visited the historical sites of Vladivostok, and attended ballet «Don Quixote» at the Mariinsky theatre’s Primorsky stage.
The educational program was finished with making of the Russian traditional toy doll «Bereginya» under the expert guidance of Lyubov Chupakhina of the Institute of Foreign Languages, VSUES.
«It is believed that dolls are toys for children, but in ancient times people treated them very seriously», said Lyubov Chupakhina. «The dolls had different functions: doll «Zernushka» provided good harvest; doll «Desyatiruchka» helped women find time to complete all chores; doll «Travnista» was placed next to the crib of a child, so it guarded child’s health; doll «Nerazluchnitsa» was given as a wedding gift to a couple, so they will never be separated.»
«I really liked this week at the Russian university», said a student of the 1st year of the Tottori University of Environmental Studies, Miya Hasegawa. «The Russian language classes were interesting, and the excursions were also interesting, but most of all, I remember the performance «Don Quixote» – very bright and festive, and very different from the Japanese traditional theatre».
At the end of the educational week, students were awarded certificates and gifts from VSUES.
«The Russian program gives Japanese students the opportunity to learn about Russian culture and traditions», said the curator of the program, Head of the Department of International Academic Mobility of VSUES, Yulia Kravchenko. «The students wanted to learn more about Russia, Vladivostok, and our university; we helped them in this. They had a very busy and interesting week: tours around Vladivostok, visits to museums, various workshops, and joint lessons with Russian students».
The project of VSUES Autumn School on Russian Language and Culture «Sailing East» is included in the «Plan of Russian-Japanese youth exchanges 2019» which was approved at the meeting of the Russian-Japanese Commission on youth exchanges March 20, 2019 in Moscow.
