The Pushkin Summer Institute (PSI) is an intensive pre-college summer program aimed at high-school students from underrepresented communities. This six-week program combines the intensive study of Russian language, culture, and civilization with residential living in a UW-Madison dormitory in order to stimulate interest in Russian studies; build critical thinking, reading, and writing skills; and prepare students for the demands of college life. The PSI curriculum centers on Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s national poet. PSI scholars participate in a rigorous program comprised of non-credit courses on Russian language (with funding from the U.S. Russia Foundation), as well as lectures on the life and work of Pushkin, workshops on Russian culture, study skills, and preparing to succeed in college. Scholars also participate in on- and off-campus extracurricular activities and field trips.
Expectations include developing Russian composition prompts, co-leading a weekly writing workshop/seminar, attending lectures and staff meetings, assisting students with essay work, and grading student essays. Applicants must be a UW Madison graduate student and have prior experience as a teaching assistant for literature.
Further information and application materials can be found here.