RosNOU and Cultural Rapprochement

The XXII International Fair “Expolingua-Berlin 2009” was held in Berlin on November 20 — 22. The major subjects of the Fair were languages and cultures, languages and careers, the vocations of a translator and an interpreter. This is one of the most authoritative educational shows which is traditionally held at the Russian Science and Culture Centre. The Russian New University, RosNOU, was among more than 180 participants from 30 countries, representing 60 languages.

For three years running RosNOU has been actively participating not only in the exhibition, but also in the scientific program of the Fair. Olga U. Ivanova, Dean of the Humanitarian Technologies and Foreign Languages Department, a member of the Russian Translators’ Association, presented an interesting report at the round-table conference “The Role of Translation in the Intercultural Dialogue Expansion”. The report was devoted to the translation of Goethe’s “Wanderer’s Night Song” made by I.F. Annensky, a Russian poet of the so-called Silver Age of the Russian literature.

Marina U. Antropova, Head of RosNOU Russian Language and General Linguistics Chair, presented a prominent report on the problems of teaching the Russian language to foreigners. In her report she summarized her experience in training future translators at the universities of Central China.

The Russian and foreign participants noted the activities of RosNOU lecturers. Olga U. Ivanova’s outstanding report about the problems of teaching at RosNOU students from CIS countries, namely Turkmenia, was of great interest to all the participants of the Fair.

Within the framework of “Expolingua” V.A. Zernov, RosNOU Rector, V.A. Minaev, Vice-rector for education and innovative work, and E.V. Lobanova, Vice-rector for development, met their colleagues from Plotsk, Poland. The agenda of the meeting included establishing co-operation between RosNOU and the friendly Polish university. Those present spoke about developing student exchange programs, holding international video-conferences and introducing other forms of effective co-operation in the sphere of education.

RosNOU is especially familiar with the main concept of this significant international event – the rapprochement of cultures. There are a lot of students of different nationalities studying at RosNOU. For them an opportunity to communicate with each other is essential for their future careers and creative work. These are expected to be the major topics of the next international conference, “Intercultural Communication in the Multi-lingual World”, which is to be held within the framework of the coming “Expolingua-2010”.