Elena Schick has graduated as Bachelor of Arts in Russian Culture. Her other discipline was Comparative Literature Studies.
What made you choose this degree programme?
Frankly, I just needed a second subject, and as I am originally from Russia, Russian Culture seemed the obvious choice.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
I didn’t have any expectations. The subject was a “stepchild” at first. By and by, however, the lecturers have managed to inspire enthusiasm for the Russian culture and especially literature.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
The cultural-historical synopses that are mandatory in the first four semesters were what I enjoyed most. Seminars dealing with diverse topics are very interesting, too. I specialised in Russian literature – a field of study that is fortunately extensively covered by the seminar curriculum.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
The language. Even though I’m a native speaker, German has long been my first language. Thanks to the entry-level test, students who have a basic grasp of the language don’t start from scratch; rather, they attend so-called compensation courses that help them improve their language abilities. It is possible, of course, to study Russian Culture without any previous knowledge of the Russian language. In that case, you will start by learning the alphabet.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
By studying Russian Culture, I have acquired an additional qualification that will later help me win brownie points in my professional life. Working as a translator would not be my first choice, at least not full-time, but working at a publishing house that publishes Russian-language books would be an option.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
If you don’t know any Russian at all: don’t let this put you off! Lectures and seminars are held in German. In the seminars, you will be expected to try to read texts in the original language, but the lecturers take non-native speakers into account and provide both versions (Russian and German), if possible.
Kathrin Lind, ninth semester student in Russian Culture. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree, 2-subject programme. Kathrin’s second subject is Slavonic Philology.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I liked the description of the degree course and wished to get a better grasp of Russia’s history and culture.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
My expectations have actually been exceeded – I had hoped to expand my existing knowledge, but in the end I discovered fields of knowledge that were entirely new to me. And even as a native speaker, I could put my language skills to the test and improve them. I was definitely not disappointed!
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
I very much appreciate that I’ve been given the opportunity to study diverse cultural aspects! It’s not just about language and literature, but also about history, art, politics, social issues, and everything else that makes up a culture. I like this diversity, and I always enjoy discovering connections to new areas of research.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Gaining an overview over the entire history of Russia and to memorise it.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
I don’t have a particular job in view yet, but I would like to work in the international field of political education.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
When you start your degree course, you’ll be getting a lot of support by the departmental student committee, your lecturers and tutors and you won’t be left to fend for yourself. Don’t worry if everything looks very difficult and confusing at first, you’ll know your way around in no time.
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