The ‘Migration seminar’. Vlada Baranova "Micro-level language planning in Russia and educational projects for migrants"

On March 18, 2021 an on-line session of the regular "Migration studies" seminar at the Institute of Social Policy of the Higher School of Economics was held. Vlada Baranova, HSE Campus in St. Petersburg Micro-level language planning in Russia and educational projects for migrants.

Despite several decades of intensive migration and different waves of immigration, Russia lacks a clearly and publicly articulated ideology of language planning. Although the Low demands proficiency in Russian from migrants for a working patent but the state does not provide affordable language courses. The migrant families themselves have to find resources for learning Russian. At the same time, there are several bottom-up projects designed for migrants including supportive language programs for minority children and adults. 

The study is based on expert interviews with activists involved in organizing educational programs for migrants in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The micro-level approach to language policy and planning takes into account the efforts of local actors involved in multilingual education projects.

Discussant: Anna Ter-Saakova, integration project “Odinakovo raznye”