<p>I haven't been on CC for some time, my D is a sophomore at Skidmore now and looking at study abroad programs. The semester in Moscow is a popular and competitive option for her, but the more that I look into it, the more confused I am. First, it seems that many of the teachers don't speak English and are working with the kids through a translator. I'm sorry, but how does that work with acting? How do the teachers even judge the kid's work if it's not their language? Secondly, some professional actor friends of mine have said that they consider the emphasis on Stanislavsky outdated. Any opinions about this would be welcome, especially from people who have been to this program or have kids who have. And if anyone has questions for me about Skidmore or its theatre program, I would be happy to answer those! Thanks.</p>
<p>Those are really interesting questions, HSN. Can your daughter talk to upperclassmen who went to Russia to see what they say about it?</p>
<p>In my son’s BFA theatre program, most of the students go to either Italy or London. The instruction in Italy is in English. From what I understand, the semester abroad is more about the cultural experience of being in another country than it is about the training per se.</p>
<p>HSN, I would also suggest that your D speak to some students who have done the program. It’s the best way for her to get an idea of what it’s like and what challenges she may be facing language-wise. We know several theatre kids who have done study abroad who have had great experiences but I can’t recall any who went to Moscow (for theatre anyway). The ones I can think of were London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and Shanghai. Shanghai would probably be the closest to Moscow as far as the possibility of language issues but I know that the program there, although taught by Chinese theatre professionals (although many have been educated and trained in the U.S.), is taught in English. The students, however, do intensive training in Mandarin while there. The Tisch study abroad theatre programs have always been advanced studio training so it is quite intensive. I’m not sure how learning through a translator would impact the training but it certainly isn’t an ideal learning environment.</p>
<p>My D attended a fall semester at the Moscow Art Theater when she was a junior at Bryn Mawr College. I, too, wondered about the efficacy of translators. It didn’t seem to be an issue for my D; she never mentioned that it was an issue for others. We visited her in Moscow and I met a number of her classmates (we took a group out to dinner on Thanksgiving)–they all seemed excited and enthusiastic about the work they were doing there. Maybe language was less of an issue for my D because she had taken two years of Russian at Bryn Mawr. </p>
<p>I’d second the suggestion that your D speak to other Skidmore students who have gone to MAT. I’m not knowledgeable about theater education, so I can’t speak to the question of whether the Stanislavsky method is outdated. However, I do know that MFA students at the American Repertory Theater spend a semester at MAT–at least one MFA program doesn’t think it’s outdated.</p>
<p>THanks for the responses. My D is talking with kids who are there now and it seems like the language barrier is challenging. (Neither my D or her friends will have any Russian before the program begins.) Bromfield, I have also heard that the American Rep Theatre has a semester there. I am sure it’s a good program, just not sure it’s worth the downsides, such as there being very little opportunity for travel. Her other options also include Dublin, London and Tuscany in Italy, all places I would prefer to be! But, I’m not the one going, she’ll have to figure this out, I am just trying to gather information for her. But I was happy to hear that you visited her, I was thinking that might be too much of a trip, but, maybe not!</p>
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<p>We probably wouldn’t have visited Moscow, if it weren’t for D going to the MAT program. That being said–we all enjoyed it. We were there for 8 days–spent 3 days in St. Petersburg (it’s a very easy trip by overnight train from Moscow). I liked St. Petersburg better than Moscow. </p>
<p>You’re right on the travel; there isn’t much opportunity–although they do take the Americanl students to St. Petersburg and the kids traveled all over Moscow seeing the sights and going to theater/dance performances in the city quite often. The MAT is located in a very upscale section of Moscow and the dorms where the students live are a few miles away. My D did say that the housing for the American students was much nicer than the housing for the Russian MAT students. </p>
<p>Good luck to your D on figuring it all out.</p>