• Featured Program: Moscow, Russia
• News from Abroad: Pipeline Set for 2008
• Featured Excursion: St. Petersburg
• Study Abroad News: Language Anxiety
• International Trivia Question

Why should you study in Moscow?  

The capital of Russia - its political, scientific, historical, architectural and business centre - is where the power and might of the Russian state developed. Deeply immersed in history and culture, Moscow is a destination no traveler should miss - and you have the opportunity to live and study in this unique and vibrant Russian city.

What can I study there?

KEI offers:

• Medicine, Health & Biomedical Science
• Science, Mathematics & Engineering Research
• East European Business, Law & Diplomacy
• Computer Science & Software Engineering
• Russian Language, Culture & Humanities

In addition to academic studies, students are able to participate in a variety of internships with businesses, law firms and non-for-profit organizations. Students will also have opportunity to participate in excursions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir and Suzdal. Further, the onsite coordinator organizes cultural activities including visits to the Kremlin, Russian ballet, museums, circus and theater.

See here for more info: www.KEIabroad.org. 

Construction on a crude oil pipeline from Siberia to China is set to begin next early next year

Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said in Beijing during a July press conference that the first payment for the Chinese branch of the pipeline linking Siberia to Russia's east coast was received in June, paving the way for construction to begin. He noted that under contract construction should begin within 208 days after the first Chinese payment is made. Currently, commencement is awaiting design finalizations.

China hopes to secure Russian oil to help increase energy supplies needed to sustain its booming economy as well as ease dependency on  Middle East supply. In 2003, Russia opted against plans to build a single pipeline directly to China, choosing a 2,500-mile route that remained entirely inside Russian territory instead. Since then, the two countries have been discussing building a branch off the main route to China's oil capital Daqing.

Featured Excursion: St. Petersburg

Why visit St. Petersburg?

As the northern capital of Russian for over 200 years, St. Petersburg has connected the country to Europe throughout its history. Today, world politics, business and culture meet on the banks of the Neva river. St. Petersburg is the only megalopolis in the world which was included in the UNESCO List of the World cultural legacy as a monument of architecture and culture, city construction and landscape art of the 18-19th centuries. European and world cultures are reflected in St. Petersburg's more than 4000 ensembles and monuments, 250 museums, 50 theatres and 80 art galleries.
 

Some of the more popular sites and activities in St. Petersburg:      

• St. Isaac's Cathedral, once the city's main church and largest in Russia
• Boat rides on the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg
• The white nights of summer, when twilight lasts through the latest hours

Learn more about St. Petersburg at                                             http://petersburgcity.com

Study Abroad News: Language Anxiety

Recent studies show high percent of students may face a kind of performance crippling anxiety in language classes

Elaine Horwitz, a professor of foreign language education at the University of Texas at Austin, is one of the strongest proponents of  ongoing studies about what she calls "language anxiety," which seems to affect nearly a third of all American students studying foreign language.

Those affected are not solely limited to Americans, with roughly 28-30 percent of students in the UK and some 40 percent of students in Asia suffering from similar anxieties. Studies show these students often study extensively, sometimes loosing sight of other school work, only to manage barely passable language comprehension.

"They were sleepless, they were unable to do anything else in their life but pay attention to this class. They were studying absolutely full time and they were getting C's," said Horwitz.

However, many refute the idea that "language anxiety" should have a class of its own and point out the large number of student who have false beliefs about how proficient they can be in a language from a home institution. Students who travel abroad and study languages overseas, remain more confident and proficient in their abilities.

Read more about Language Anxiety at  http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/06/29/language

International Trivia Question
Under which tsar did Moscow lose its status as the Russian capital?

[The first 2 people who e-mail KEI with the correct answer will win a money belt. When submitting your answer, please include your mailing address, email and telephone number. Hint: The answer can be found on KEI's website...]