Foreign Language Learning as Self-Formation

In Russian, the word for "education" is ≪образование (obrazovanie)≫, which is the same word used for "formation." Based on the idea that education is the process of forming a human being, we can say that obrazovanie up through high school is the first stage where you are taught and nurtured, while university is the second stage where you form yourself. University is a place where you choose your own major and classes to shape who you are.  

However, foreign languages await you there as compulsory subjects. In the Faculty of Law, you study two types of foreign languages at least twice a week each for two years.

To be honest, however, it is difficult to become a proficient user of a newly learned foreign language with this number of hours, and if you stop studying once you have earned the credits, you will quickly forget the grammar and vocabulary. Furthermore, what is the point of studying a foreign language that you seem unlikely to use in the future (Russian, for example??)?

If you attend class absentmindedly while thinking such things, the class time will be wasted, and homework and studying for tests will take even longer. Instead, please enjoy the experience of language learning itself while making a fuss over every little thing (I don't mean literally being noisy in the classroom), thinking things like, "'Ж' is such a strange character!", "Six case declensions? No way...", or "So that's why borscht is red!" Even if you forget the words later, the memory of encountering a foreign language and its culture is a precious asset, and being able to exchange social pleasantries or read and write with a dictionary is a wonderful skill. It goes without saying that expanding your horizons by learning about the culture and ways of thinking of the relevant linguistic sphere is also important. Furthermore, the Faculty of Law offers intensive courses where you can study a single language four times a week and continue to hone your skills until your senior year. It is also our job as faculty members to continue supporting the foundational linguistic aspects for those specializing in regional studies or those who wish to become a bridge for diplomacy or trade.