August 15-29, Nizhny Novgorod, Summer Multidisciplinary School "Minins Sommerschule — 2015" within the program "Go East" of DAAD fund took place at Minin University. German students covered modules on 'The Russian language as a foreign language and a language of intercultural communication' and 'Together for children's sake: an interdisciplinary approach to defending children against violence', and also were introduced to the culture and traditions of Nizhny Novgorod region.
In language classes the students significantly developed their knowledge of the Russian language and culture, perfected both oral and writing skills.
Within the 'Together for children's sake: an interdisciplinary approach to defending children against violence' module the students had a two-day training session in Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, covering two issues: 'ICDP International Child Development Programme' and 'Cognitive and behavioural trauma therapy'. The students actively took part in the session and obtained unique experience of working with children that suffered from violence. Moreover, the students attended professor Skitnevskaya's lectures on preventing violence and cruel treatment towards children in educational institutes and in a family and methods of detecting cases of cruel treatment.
The participants visited cultural and historic sites, natural sites of the region; learnt its architecture, its traditions and customs. The students visited legendary Lake Svetloyar which is connected with an ancient legend about the city of Kitezh. The participants also visited Vladimirskoe village where they tasted real Russian cuisine. The guests also went to Ichalky pine wood which is famous for its solutional caves.
The participants immensly liked both the academic and cultural parts of the program and highly evaluated its organization. At the end of Summer school all students got Certificates that prove their completing the program and obtaining 5 ECTS.
The next Summer school is expected in August, 2016.
