Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Foreign Students at TSPU

The Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation at the TSPU (Tomsk State Pedagogical University) is actively implementing a comprehensive program for the adaptation of foreign students. A recent milestone in this program was their introduction to Russian culinary traditions.

This exciting event took place during the second meeting of the Russian Language Club, organized by fourth-year students of the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation. These students are pursuing a degree in 44.03.05 Pedagogical Education with two specialization profiles: «Foreign (English) Language» and «Russian as a Foreign Language».

Maria Gultseva, one of the organizers, said: «Preparing for the conversation club meeting for foreign students was a challenging task. We wanted to create an atmosphere where students would want to engage in conversation. And that's exactly what we achieved. This is a fascinating experience that not only helps foreign students studying Russian but also benefits us as future teachers of Russian as a Foreign Language».

Foreign students, primarily from the People's Republic of China, were introduced to the recipes of popular Russian dishes. They told about their favorite dishes, such as dumplings, pancakes, and cherry pierogies, and engaged in discussions about the culinary traditions of China and Russia. Guys also discussed a topic of dining etiquette, accompanied by a tasting session of traditional Russian pastries.

Russian students from the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation noted that the Russian Language Club meetings provided them with an excellent opportunity to assess their professionalism when working with foreign students. Among the moderators were foreign TSPU students from China and Turkmenistan. For them, this type of activity serves not only as a chance to showcase their professional skills but also as a means to share their experiences in overcoming the challenges faced by foreign students during their initial year of study and life in another country.