December 14, 2007 – Earlier this fall, Shaker High School senior Alina Heim learned Russian dancing, helped defy American stereotypes and enhanced her language skills while participating in a two-week exchange program in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Russian culture and language in its fullest and truest form was taught to me beyond the capability of any textbook,” said Heim. “This new knowledge has broadened my mind, as well as my communications.”

Heim, along with 21 other Shaker High School students, had the unique opportunity to live with Russian families, attend classes at a sister school and visit renowned cultural and historical sites.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to enhance my language skills,” said senior Sara LaMountain about her decision to go on the trip. She plans to further her studies in Russian and linguistics in college next year.

The group of juniors and seniors, along with their chaperones Shaker High School Principal Rich Murphy and Russian teachers Sara Detmer and Kathryn Burgess, arrived in Moscow where they spent a few days touring the city, Red Square, the Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum and GUM, the state department store.

“I didn’t think it was going to be as beautiful as it was,” Heim said about the city.

After touring Moscow, the group traveled by train to St. Petersburg where they stayed with their host families for the remainder of the trip.

“Living with a host family gave students the greatest understanding of Russian culture—it is an experience that cannot be rivaled by simply visiting a country and staying at a hotel,” said Detmer. “They also gained more of an understanding about their own culture—it opened their eyes and they became more worldly.”

“My host family did everything they could to make my trip better,” said senior Adam Drake, whose favorite part of the exchange was spending time with his host student, Sergay, and all of his friends. “We actually became good friends.”

“My family was so much fun,” said Heim, who communicated with her host family's son by speaking in Russian while he responded in English.

“I was always busy doing something,” said LaMountain, whose family planned a variety of excursions and trips for her.

“Traveling to Russia and staying with families gave all of us a new perspective on the world that surrounds Shaker High School,” said Murphy. “I know that I certainly look at world events and other societies in a different context than I did before traveling to Russia.”

While their host families were busy at work and school during the weekdays, the group attended classes at Alma Mater Gymnasium in the morning. They participated in class lectures about American culture and the English language, for example, or simply listened to the discussion, conducted in Russian, of course.

“It was interesting to see how—even though we were on the opposite side of the world—Russian teenagers were very similar to us,” said Nick “Bob” Wells. “We had a lot of the same interests and got along very easily.”

The students also uncovered some misconceptions about American culture. “Russian students didn’t realize how intelligent we were,” said Heim, who recalled that Russian students were surprised to learn that many American students take pre-calculus and calculus courses.

LaMountain said they didn’t realize that Americans do not eat that much fast food.

Following class, the group went on guided excursions to different sites, including St. Nicholas Cathedral, Cathedral Our Lady of Kazan, Peterhof Palace, Pushkin and Pavlovsk, Cathedral of the Split Blood and Peter and Paul Fortress.

Although this was Detmer’s fourth visit to Russia, she said she always learns something new, adding, “It’s also very good practice for me to speak in the native tongue.” 

Principal Murphy said he was impressed by the student’s willingness to expose themselves to a different way of living and the customs that are associated with it.

“I know they are all stronger individuals because of this trip,” said Murphy. “I thank Mrs. Kats, Ms. Burgess, Ms. Detmer and Mrs. Shkaf for all of their hard work and planning that allowed this trip to occur.”
 

“Every trip has been wonderful, and while organizing from a different building is difficult, I know that the benefit to the students is tremendous,” said Burgess, who teaches at the junior high school. This was her third time bringing students to Russia. 

“The program was very successful, and each participant proved to be an exemplary student ambassador for our country,” said Foreign Language Supervisor Galina Kats. “During their visit, our chaperones received a number of compliments concerning the students' ability to communicate in the native language and to immerse themselves in Russian culture.”

Most of the students agreed that if you can take advantage of the exchange program in high school, you should definitely go and experience a different way of life.

“My Russian trip was a once in a lifetime experience,” said LaMountain. “I hope I will return to Russia some day soon, but if I do not, I will carry this wondrous experience with me for the rest of my life.”

For those students who were unable to make the trip abroad, they were able to reap some of the benefits. Detmer brought home certain real-life objects, known as realia, including ads, ticket stubs, books and photos to incorporate into classroom instruction. Realia appears on state tests and often helps students better understand other cultures and languages by strengthening their association between words for everyday objects and the objects themselves.