Russian Language Immersion in Kyrgyzstan

Most people, when they think about Russian language immersion, easily overlook a great opportunity and only think about venturing to Russia. The truth is that getting to take part in Russian language immersion in Russia can be difficult and expensive, not to mention a longer process overall. A much better, cheaper, and cost-effective method to learning this language is to actually have a Russian language immersion in Kyrgyzstan.

Drawbacks of Russian Language Immersion in Russia

1. Russia is expensive. Obviously it depends on where you want to go, but if you are looking to study in St. Petersburg or Moscow, expect to pay top dollar for those lessons. Group lessons alone can run in the range of $25 an hour.
2. Russian visa is difficult to obtain. Multiple requirements have been set out for people to get a visa to Russia, such as a letter of invitation and the need to be in one's home country when applying. In addition to these obstacles, the visa costs in the hundred dollar range to apply for.
3. Russian language can be regional. Some students I've met that have journeyed through Russia have pointed out that learning Russian in Russia itself can be difficult due to regional differences. The Russian language has been spoken in these areas for very long periods of time and has had the chance to evolve from standards leading to regional dialects. These dialects can make learning proper Russian difficult to the non-native speaker.

Benefits of Russian Language Immersion in Kyrgyzstan

1. Kyrgyzstan language study is cheap. Russian language study in the capital of Bishkek can run a mere $4 an hour for a PRIVATE lesson! That is one full hour of sitting with a native Russian speaker alone and forced to learn and use the language. When you consider the cost of private lessons in Russia itself to those in Kyrgyzstan, there is really no question as to which one is the better value.
2. Kyrgyzstan visa is easy to obtain. A 30 day tourist visa can be granted on arrival at the Manas International airport in Bishkek for a fraction of the cost of the Russian visa. Once enrolled in a local language study school, this visa can be extended with the school's help for as long as you plan to remain in Russian lessons.
3. Kyrgyzstan Russian meets standards. It is true that the Kyrgyz people are proud of the way they speak Russian. Seeing how this was a language imposed upon them not too long ago in the past, they have basically learned to speak it in the correct, text-book style that you would learn in a language study in university.

Learning to Speak the Russian Language in Kyrgyzstan

Despite contrary belief, there are in fact schools in Kyrgyzstan, and furthermore, there are even language schools for foreigners in Kyrgyzstan as well! It is actually quite easy to track down a learning source after arrival in Bishkek, so don't fret or worry too much about needing definite plans in advance.

For learning to speak the Russian language, I would suggest trying The London School in Bishkek. The London School in Bishkek offers Russian, Kyrgyz and English lessons for visitors and locals alike. The staff is top-notch, and the service to its students is excellent. Better yet, the private Russian lessons are only $4 an hour, which means you can afford to do an intense program of 4+ hours of study per day without breaking the bank.

Russian Language Immersion in a Kyrgyz Family

Russian language immersion does not stop when you leave the classroom. In order to be successful you will need to live in a place that speaks Russian constantly, so the real benefit is achieved by living with a Kyrgyz host family.

In Bishkek, the Russian language is spoken by most inhabitants, and it is actually the language of choice by most of the younger generation. Therefore, living with a Kyrgyz host family can give your Russian language immersion program the extra kick it needs to have you speaking Russian in no time.

The London School in Bishkek, for example, offers its students the chance to be placed with a local family for a taste of Kyrgyz family life that not only opens a student's eyes to a new culture, but also tops off a wonderful Russian language immersion program.

Tips, Tid-Bits, and Things to Watch Out For

1. Kyrgyz visa entry and exit issues. For those planning to travel around the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia, be aware of the qualifications of your visa. I, personally, had a very sticky situation when my Kazakhstan border crossing went wrong. After checking with the Kyrgyz main visa office, I was informed that my visa allowed for another entry into the country, but the border guards said otherwise. I later learned that they really only expected a bribe, but instead I headed back to Kazakhstan to apply for a new visa.
2. Kyrgyz language predominant outside Bishkek. Outside of Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, you will quickly find that most people choose to speak the Kyrgyz language instead of Russian. Most do know Russian, but it is definitely less prevalent, so studying in another other area besides Bishkek could not be as beneficial to a Russian language student.
3. Immersion is the best and easiest way to learn a language. I have studied a few languages throughout high school and university, but through the short time I spend on my adventures studying Russian and Spanish in immersion programs, I have learned far more than I ever did in school. I am an advocate for Russian language immersion programs for those truly wanting to learn the language.

So, if you're serious about learning to speak the Russian language, you might want to think about participating in a Russian language immersion in Kyrgyzstan. It's not only an interesting place to live, but it also provide quality lessons at a fraction of the cost of Russia.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I'd love to help :)