Why take Russian course?
Russian language is spoken by 280 million people; it ranks with English and Chinese as one of the three major world languages. Over a quarter of the world’s scientific literature is published in Russian. With the end of the Cold War, Russia has opened its door to international businesses, banking, mass media, culture, and entertainment. Thousands of Russians travel to the United States for business and pleasure each year, and thousands more have made the United States their home. Today the demand for professionals who know Russian language is great and is growing.
Reasons to learn Russsian
Russian — language of science. Today Russian is widely used outside Russia. It is applied as language of science — means of dialogue, means of coding and storage of universal knowledge (60-70% of all world information is published in English and Russian languages). Russian also is a necessary accessory of world systems of the communications (broadcasts, air- and space communication, etc.).
Russian and other world languages are characterized by public functions. For example, they carry out a role of lingus franca, i.e. the intermediary in distribution of a level of knowledge to different countries; become languages of diplomacy, international trade, transport, tourism. Besides such languages are characterized also by their conscious choice for studying and use (for example, a recognition their subject of teaching at schools and high schools of the majority of the countries; de jure recognition as a working language in the international organizations, etc.)