LLRC Faculty Spotlight

Learning Russian as Science and as Communicative Performance

Dr. Anna Geisherik has been teaching Russian at SBU for over 20 years. She is originally from Ukraine and speaks Russian, Ukrainian, English, Spanish and French.  Her doctoral dissertation was on literacy education for heritage learners of Russian. She created heritage and non-heritage tracks for Russian and  initiated distance and in-person blended Russian courses at Stony Brook.

The moment she finds most rewarding is when non-heritage learners are fascinated to discover their intuitive knowledge in their own mother language, English, through learning Russian, and when heritage learners are fascinated by their ability to make logical sense of the language they grew up hearing. She says:

"Learning a language can be like learning science as an academic subject, but it can also be like learning music as a performance. You need to engage both your brain and practical skills to communicate in Russian."

She also recognizes the benefits of both in-person teaching and online teaching.

"There are some benefits that only in-person teaching can provide, but there are also some benefits that only online teaching can provide. VoiceThread allows shy students to confidently present their work in their own space while still being heard by their classmates. Zoom's breakout rooms provide small group environment while enabling our TAs to move from one room to another instantly, offering personalized assistance to each student."

In her Zoom class, students are encouraged to turn on the camera, something some
professors may hesitate to do. Dr. Geisherik explains:

"Language classes differ from large lecture classes, where students simply sit and listen. In language classes, students are expected to communicate, using both speech and all non-verbal cues like facial expressions, eye contact, and hand gestures. Teachers need to demonstrate vulnerability and request students' cooperation to ensure their successful learning."

Lately, she has been deeply concerned about the world, where some people tend to link the Russian language exclusively with a militaristic Russia. This is not helpful for our society. In addition, it is important to recognize that the Russian language is spoken across diverse regions worldwide, including countries like Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Lithuania, as well as U.S. cities such as New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Dr. Geisherik hopes to expand the Russian program at SBU to provide additional language and culture courses each semester and add Ukrainian language and culture courses next year. More funds are definitely needed.

Interviewed and written by Eriko Sato

October 20, 2023