RSSS Semester-Long Internships
Are you looking to combine the interests of your major and minor? Do you want to experience what you can do with Russian outside of class?
Internships are a great opportunity to start building your professional record and establish important community ties. You might find connections to Russia and Russian language in places you did not expect and will discover how the many different skills practiced in the Russian language and culture classrooms translate into the world off campus.
A.
Internships with Jewish Family and Children's Services
The student will work one-on-one with a Russian-speaking Holocaust survivor or survivors as a “Friendly Volunteer” through the JFCS Holocaust Program. The student will interact with the survivor(s) for a minimum of two hours per week, and will keep a weekly journal of meetings and activities/conversation summaries. This journal will be submitted to the instructor/advisor at the middle of each month. In a final five-page reflection paper the student will reflect upon, assess and describe the experience in terms of impact on the student’s understanding of his or her own skills and development as a student of Russian and as a member of the community.
Director of Engagement Opportunities with the JFCS Holocaust Program (RSSS 493C-005): Professor John Leafgren leafgren@email.arizona.edu
B.
Teach Russian and get Course Credit
RSSS 493C (undergraduate) or RSSS 593C (graduate) Russian Teaching Internships involve working with students, grading, preparing, and delivering lessons, providing logistical support and other appropriate activities. During this experience you will apply your Russian communication skills in meaningful way outside the classroom. This will serve both to highlight for you the significant value of these intercultural linguistic skills and allow you to make a meaningful contribution to our community in general and to segments of the community who, in particular, are in need of these skills.
Russian Department is partnering with many local schools and community centers and is actively seeking new collaborations. Some of our current internship hosts include:
- MASSA (Math and Science Success Academy)
- Academy of Math & Science
- The Gregory School
- Borton Magnet School
- Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center
Students are welcome to suggest other internship sites. They will need to work together with a faculty member to establish a relationship to the site, if the suggestion meets approval.
Internship positions are limited. Students are encouraged to apply at least a month before the start of the internship semester. To be considered, download and complete the 493C internship application form
Director of Engagement Opportunities (RSSS 493C-011 Teaching Internships): Professor Liudmila Klimanova klimanova@email.arizona.edu. Review the internship syllabus (with accompanying materials) and contact Professor Klimanova with your questions and for approval before signing up for RSSS 493C Internship which qualifies as an Engagement opportunity.
What is an Engagement Opportunity?
100% Engagement is the University of Arizona's commitment that all undergraduate students will have the opportunity to apply their learning to real challenges through an experience such as an internship. Through these experiences, students develop professional and personal skills and reflect upon their learning in ways that ensure they graduate ready to launch meaningful careers. When students complete an Engagement experience, they earn an Engaged Learning Experience notation on their academic transcript. Go to the Office of Student Engagement & Career Development to learn more.
Fingerprint Clearance Cards: All interns are required to obtain an Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card to be able to work with minors and/or vulnerable adults prior to the first orientation meeting at an internship site (see Arizona Revised Statue 15-106 for more details). The process of obtaining a IVP fingerprint card can take from two weeks to several months. Apply for an IVP card: https://www.azdps.gov/services/public/fingerprint (Click Apply for a Card tab at the center of the page). Electronic is the recommended method of fingerprinting to expedite processing in Arizona. You will be prompted to get your fingerprints taken at an approved vendor – you must be fingerprinted in order to finish processing your fingerprint card application. Approved vendors can be found here: https://www.aps.gemalto.com/az/index.htm If you are physically present in Tucson, University Postal on Speedway Blvd is an approved vendor near campus that offers electronic fingerprinting: http://university-postal.com/.