Russian Language Institute
The Russian Language Institute is our original intensive language program. The RLI was first offered as a summer language program in 1993 on the campus of Columbia International University. Today It is a full-time, year-round institute committed to providing students with an accelerated acquisition of Russian.
At RLI we don’t mess around. Here you will be speaking, reading and writing in Russian within weeks of beginning your training. The year-round Institute is designed to provide new trainees with a complete program of study in order to meet the minimum language proficiency level required for effective communication in most basic life and ministry situations. Completion of the 6-month or 8-month programs provides one with certification in the language, ensuring effective long-term language acquisition with continued study following the institute.
Why is such pre-field training so vital? Click here to learn more
Structure of the Year-round RLI
The Russian Language Institute gives new students the potential of beginning their training at at least two different times during the year, Fall and Spring. The program is broken down into three different tracks of study, according to the specific needs of our trainees. We offer an Accelerated Track for those who are ready for quick language acquisition, a Standard Track (which is appropriate for most of our students), and a slower-paced third track of study, for those who need extra one-on-one assistance, tutoring, etc.
Assignment to a track of study is based upon a Language Aptitude Exam that we administer to new students. The exam evaluates and identifies your specific learning needs so that we can best serve you in acquiring the language. The result of this system is a program that suits any individual’s language-learning aptitude and situation, so that with proper study and effort, no one fails to learn, period. The three Tracks of study work with the following schedules for our full-time certification program:
Track I: A 6-month course of study that begins either in Spring and runs through the summer (includes summer Russian Institute), or in Summer and runs through the Fall.
Track II: An 8-month course of study that begins in the Fall and runs through the Spring.
Track III: A 10-month course of study that begins either in the Fall and runs through the Summer (includes the Summer Institute), or in the Spring and runs through the Fall. Both options include the Summer Institute.
For start dates, tuition and other information, please go to Our Programs