Riga, Latvia: Traces of Russian and Soviet Empire

Riga, the capital city of Latvia, is home to a large Russian-speaking population, making it an excellent location for students who wish to study Russian while living in the European Union. Students stay with Russian-speaking host families and attend language classes four to five days a week. Each week, they participate in two hours of conversation practice and a course on Russian culture. Students also take part in weekly excursions to historic sites throughout Latvia and short trips to Estonia and Lithuania.

The program includes an International Relations and Political Science internship featuring presentations and lectures by leading experts from Latvia and Eastern Europe on topics such as contemporary Russia (political, cultural, economic, social, media, opposition, etc.), security, and Russia–NATO relations. Students also take field trips to the U.S. Embassy, the Latvian Parliament, and other government offices, and meet with U.S. Foreign Service officers in Riga.

The internship track culminates in guided practical research, which students present at a conference at the end of the program. Participants receive a Certificate of Internship Completion. Students with no prior knowledge of Russian are welcome and will enroll in a beginning-level Russian course.

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