Global Cultures & Languages

Russian Program News

New Chess Club Connects Students, Sister Cities

La Crosse-Dubna Friendship Association (LDFA) LogoThe La Crosse-Dubna Druzhba Chess Club launched its initial friendly, non-competitive chess match on Saturday, April 3. An opening ceremony marked the official opening of the project, featuring remarks from La Crosse Mayor Kabat and Mayor Kulikov of Dubna, Russia.

Learn more about the club in the local news (WXOW and WKBT), or practice your Russian listening comprehension by watching this video from DubnaTV, or Телеканал «Дубна».

To get involved, please contact Natalia Roberts.

Student embarks on career in international relations

Josh Grunske

Josh Grunske was accepted to graduate school at the University of Rhode Island, where he is working toward a master's in international relations with specializations in peace studies and diplomacy. The UW-Oshkosh alum took five semesters of Russian with UWL Professor Natalia Roberts through the Collaborative Language Program.

You can read more about Josh's experience in the Fall 2020 CASSH Capstone Newsletter.

UWL Student Conducting Research in Russia

Dubna

Brett Rosiejka, an undergraduate student studying applied math and physics at UWL has been accepted by International Student Practice program to conduct research on signal processing of nuclear experiments at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research(JINR) in Dubna, Russia (a sister-city of La Crosse). He was also presented with an opportunity to attend seminars at the JINR Education Programme and the University Centre, together with students from other countries. During his two-month internship in Dubna, Brett Rosiejka will improve the Russian communication skills that he gained during his four semesters of Russian Language Studies at UWL. See the full story here

What our students say:

"My Russian class taught me patience, how to listen to students on what they need from me and help them process complex information with confidence. I know how hard it is to learn something new and be able to remember it. I am here to help them succeed." - Galina

"Deciding to learn Russian my freshman year has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. Not only have I learned immensely about the Russian culture and language, I’ve been able to develop connections and friendships." - Sabrina

"A year ago, I never would have seen myself in Russian. Out of extreme interest, I decided to give it a shot and now it is my favorite class. Russian not only makes for an outstanding resume, but it enlightens you on cultural perspectives you never would have considered before. I encourage you, if you are ever on the fence about taking Russian, do it! The skills, knowledge, and cultural influence you obtain is something you will never regret learning." - Morgan

"As an archaeologist and potential Peace Corps member, this is a wonderful language to learn. In Russian you make friends from all over, learn about the culture different from yours, and achieve a better understanding of the world. And don’t worry about the alphabet, it’s easy." - Michaela

"Learning Russian has allowed me to appreciate life beyond my own. It is the language of literature and beauty. In a time when American and Russian relations are more important than ever, it is important to focus on how culture and art bind us." - Cedric

"I took Russian mainly because it will benefit me greatly in my future career, which I hope to be in law or the government. I was also anxious to take Russian because I have always been interested in the language and culture, and college was my first opportunity to take Russian classes...once you start learning the basics, everything starts to fall into place. Taking Russian shows that you “went the extra mile” in learning a foreign language. Russia is also very prevalent in our society and having it on your resume will put you at an advantage above other searching for a job." - Annie

"I have learned so much in just two semesters of Russian. I never thought I would be able to learn a foreign language before I started learning Russian." - Emma

From Russian Studies to Physical Therapy: an Academic Journey

Russian Studies alum Brandon Norton shares his experience from UWL to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

"Studying Russian made me a more intentional communicator. Struggling to express ideas I understood taught me empathy and made me a more patient listener—once you’ve been in that position, you don’t forget it. That curiosity about language and culture led me to spend a year in Russia teaching English, where I saw firsthand how deeply the two are connected.

Brandon Norton in Moscow's Red Square

Teaching abroad showed qualities a transcript cannot: adaptability, cross-cultural competence, and the ability to lead in unfamiliar environments. Navigating daily life in another language, building trust with students from a different cultural background, and designing accessible yet rigorous lessons reflected the same competencies Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs value—critical thinking, resilience, and patient-centered communication. It gave me a clear, lived answer to why I want to work with people.

Brandon Norton with skeleton at Carroll University

My time in Russia shaped how I approach patient care. It trained me in patience, observation, and adaptability long before entering a clinic. In DPT training, we learn that returning to prior function often involves compensation and gradual progress. Teaching reinforced that my role is not to be perfect, but to facilitate growth. My students needed a safe space to make mistakes and learn; I aim to bring that same mindset to patient care—focusing less on having all the answers and more on ensuring each person feels supported enough to keep going.

Ultimately, studying Russian changed how I see the world, broadened my perspective, and deepened my understanding of people and relationships.

Ten things you probably didn't know about Russia (from Russian Life)

• St. Cyril did not create the Cyrillic Alphabet
• Every Russian Tsar named Peter died a hard and painful death
• The first Russian gold medalist was in skating and the first Soviet gold medalist was in discus
• A Russian invented the helicopter
• The Russian language is spoken by 278 million Earthlings (fifth most of all languages)
• A fox is the most famous trickster in Russian folk tales
• 22% of the world's forests are in Russia
• Never step over small children, you might stunt their growth
• Tchaikovsky (yes, Pyotr Ilyich, of 1812 Overture fame), was actually trained as a lawyer
• Russia has more Muslims than any European country