Selim KARAGÖZ

Why to learn Russian in Dagestan ?

The Republic of Dagestan is the southernmost republic of Russian Federation, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and largest city is Makhachkala (Rus: Махачкала), located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea. There are many ''mosts'' about Dagestan in Russia. For example the oldest city of Russia is located in Dagestan (Derbent), the best weather in Russia can be seen in Dagestan, It has a border to the Caspian Sea (it is a big thing in a cold country like Russia), it has border to 2 other Caucasian countries (Georgia and Azerbaijan) and very close to Armenia and Turkey. The southernmost point of Russia is located in Dagestan (Bazardüzü - Базардюзю).

Dagestan is has a long border to Caspian Sea, and neighbor with Azerbaijan and Georgia

I got a scholarship to do my ph.D. in Russia, at Kazan Federal University in 2015. I didn't know Russian language but this wasn't a problem because I was going to take Russian Language Course in the first year, and then start doing my ph. D. when I got the e-mail from the Ministry of Education, stating that I will study the first year, the language training in Dagestan, at Dagestan Federal University (DGU) ( http://cmdp.dgu.ru/ ), and then go to Kazan and start the ph.D, I was shocked to be honest and I remember my cousin was there with me and he pissed himself laughing, saying that the Russian dream is over without even starting. But despite all these media bombardment about Dagestan, I made one of the most important decisions of my life. My cousin said that so, however neither he nor I knew at that moment that the real dream was starting for me just then. He thought that I would change my mind and not go to Russia, but after a while of thinking, I said to myself that this could be a great chance for me actually. I am an historian and the history of Dagestan is very very interesting. There are many things about Turkish history in Dagestan as well. So I ended up in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan on the 11th of January, 2015. Thus and so, my great journey has started in Dagestan. I had the most beneficial education term and the one of the best moments of my life in Dagestan in this period. There are definitely so so much to tell about it but right now, I just want to write here why you SHOULD come to Dagestan to learn Russian:

THE BEST TEACHERS

First of all, since we criticize it from the point of learning Russian, I would like to start with the teachers. I have made many researches, I had friends in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan who also studied Russian language and I was in touch with them. I talked often and compared the education that we had received. I can say that MOST PROBABLY the best Russian language teachers of Russia, and maybe of the world are in Dagestan. Seriously, I couldn't imagine how helpful they could be and sacrifice everything to teach us this language.

Most of the teachers are over 45-50 years with huge teaching experiences. They are very disciplined and organized since they have had the Soviet lifestyle and teaching system.

As a future lecturer, I have learnt many things from these teachers, not only Russian language, but also about pedagogy, how to teach effectively, how to give the information correctly. They know a lot about the history of Russia and literature as well. So you are can discuss many topics with them and exchange ideas.

There are young teachers as well, and this gives us the chance to benefit from both Soviet and Federal Russian teaching systems at the same time. Young teachers are also very qualified and talented.

They definitely pay a great attention on absenteeism. When/if you are absent in one class, they absolutely make sure that you catch up in the next class, with homework load or another way. I started the course 2 weeks after my group, but this wasn't a problem because one teacher worked only for me for a week, gave me very intensive lessons and made me catch up with the others. When I was absent the class, they worked extra hours for me, even sometimes I was so tired and fed up with learning for so many hours, but they never were.

Russian lesson

History lesson

It was unbelievable to see their energy and determination. I had to go back to my country for 2 weeks, but even that didn't made me drop behind the others in the class because the teachers kept sending me the documents via e-mail and made sure that I followed the schedule, and when I was finally back, they worked extra hours for me. I can never forget their struggle for us in the hot summer days, when there was no one at the faculty but only us.

THE FACULTY AND DORMITORY ARE IN THE SAME BUILDING

One of the best thing about studying at DGU for me was that the faculty and the classrooms were in the same building. I was very thankful for this. Since we often had classes in the early morning, around 08:30, we never had the problem of being late. The dormitory is on the 2nd floor and the faculty is on the 4th. The diaconate is also on the 4th floor. Once you arrive this faculty, they do every formal procedures for you, like visa, health insurance, registration etc.

Studying in Dagestan is not so expensive. I had a scholarship. But there were the students who were paying for education as well.

For the language course: For 10 months, around 50.000 Ruble - 2.350 TL, 800 Euro.

For the bachelor: 1 year - between 60.000 - 90.000 Ruble

The faculty from outside on an Autumn day. This Soviet building might be old, yet beautiful, charming and peaceful. A good place to learn Russian language and culture. For a historian like me, it is far better than the ugly contemporary buildings :)

Dormitory and the rooms

When I arrived here, the dormitory was the only minus for me. Because the toilets and showers were very old and not very clean. However after some months, they started the restoration and when I left, they had already finished it partly and made it very beautiful.

The showers

The rooms after the restoration.

About the rooms; they are I think in adequate size and clean. There is no trouble with the heating system.

This was the room when I first arrived. The ph.D. students stay alone, bachelors and master are 2 people together. There are 2 beds, to tables, 2 drawers and one garderobe. You also have pillows, covers and sheets.

This is the room after I settled. I bought the carpet myself. Not so expensive. (1000 Ruble - Around 20 Dollars)

There is a prayer room for the Muslim students. They and practice their rituals there. Muslims students come together and pray here 5 times a day. It is a good place for them to come together in the evenings, pray, chill out and talk to each other.

The dormitory is very quiet place. Students are doing their own business, only studying and when they have spare time, they have plenty of options to spent time which I will talk about here. But there is one thing I need to stress here; if you are a party kind of person, this is not a dorm for you. They organize some nights which are nice and you can attend them. It is good that partying and drinking isn't allowed here. I remember when I was in Denmark, very often I wasn't able to study and sleep very often and this effected my studies of course. Here it is very peaceful, you have all time you need to study. Russian is a hard language and this is the kind of place you should have to focus on it.

The dormitory is a perfect place to learn. Peace and quiet.

There are kitchens in the dormitory where you can cook your own food. There is also a cafeteria on the first floor.

The Classrooms

As I mentioned, the classrooms are in the same building as the faculty. I really love the classrooms. They are different than students are normally used to. Here, there aren't classrooms for students, but the teachers. So each teacher has his/her own mini-pretty classroom.

The classrooms are incredibly beautiful and inspirational

Students follow their schedule and go to the teachers classes to attend the lessons. I was so much in peace in those classes. The tools in the classes are old yet very beautiful.

The flowers of the teachers. The teachers behave their students just like their flowers :)

A class for physical sciences, sometimes geology.

The teachers, with the flowers and paintings, make them even prettier. The rooms are fitted up with old Soviet tools like maps, test tubes, old books etc. You just can't get enough of it. It feels like living on the old times, with Lomonosov, Tolstoy, Gagarin :)

A teacher with his student. The classrooms are max for 4-5 students. But mostly they are separated in triple groups. We were three.

DAGESTAN IS CHEAP

Dagestan is much much cheaper than the northern cities of Russia. Especially dormitory is almost free. I paid only 2400 Ruble (35 Euro) for staying one year. This was included electricity, water and heating. Food is also very cheap comparing to Europe and the other regions of Russia. The international students are very lucky because the biggest bazar of the city is very close to the dormitory. You can find absolutely everything you need in there.

The fish market. The wealth of the Caspian Sea. Dried fish is very famous here.

Fishes from the Caspian Sea

Bazaar is just in front of the dormitory.

NOT ONLY RUSSIAN, ALSO OTHER COURSES

If you study Russian in Dagestan, another vantage is that you don't only learn the language, but also Russian Literature, history, geography and sociology if you are studying humanities; chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology if you study sciences. First, you start learning only Russian language. After 2.5 - 3 months, you start getting these mentioned lessons.

History Lesson. We, humanity group started getting history, geography, literature etc., and the other mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. So they prepare you so well for your future profession.

Literature lesson

Geography Class :)

Students in Dagestan at DGU get lessons 6 days a week (including Saturday), around 4-5 days a day. Only on Sundays there is holiday. So as can be seen, this school, this system, this environment is hundred percent good for the ones who really who demand to learn, learn fast. For the ones who study to learn, but not to hang around. In Moscow, St. Petersburg I had friends who had the same scholarship as me but they don't that intensive lessons as we do. They have only 3-4 days a week.

WEATHER AND NATURE

Dagestan is on the very south of Russian Federation. Russia is vey well known with its cold weather. When Russians have the kind of weather which is very cold for many other countries, it is the time of winter preparation for Russia :) It is often said that in Russia, there is only two sessions: Winter and July :) But Dagestan is definitely an exception. You can see the 4 seasons here. I am writing these lines in Dagestan, Makhachkala, in a very sunny, hot summer day. The weather has been very nice and hot whole summer. In winter, there was cold but not so deadly like on northern Russia. The spring and Autumn are also very beautiful in Dagestan. Many Russian writers mentioned the beauty of Caucasian weather. Pushkin and Tolstoy are the best examples. They simply fell in love with Caucasian weather.

Caspian Sea

Caspian Sea - Derbent

Derbent Castle

The view of Derbent and the Caspian sea from the castle

RICH CULTURAL AND NATIONAL MOSAIC

In Dagestan, there are too many nationalities. Officially, there are over 30 nations, but unofficially, it is much more. There are Avars, Khumuks, Lezgians, Dargins, Laks, Nogais, Tabasarans, Russians, jews and many others. During my stay in Dagestan, I got to learn about many things about these mystical nations, theirs ancient languages, cultures, traditions. I met people from many nationalities. Each time I met someone, I learnt many things about their lives and traditions. Every nations has its own language but Russian is the Lingua Franca in Dagestan. Everyone speaks Russian. On streets, restaurants, bazars, people communicate with each other with Russian language.

Dagestan music

Lezginka dance

CASPIAN SEA

Having a long coast to the Caspian Sea is a huge plus for Dagestan. Caspian sea, as well known is the biggest lake in the world. It is so big that it has been called ''sea'' in history and today. Caspian sea is breathtakingly beautiful and calming. You just have to visit the Caspian and see yourself. As a historian, after seeing the Caspian, I realized that you cannot understand the history of this region unless you saw Caspian Sea, you cannot understand the history around Caspian Sea unless you saw it, felt its water both in winter and summer :)

It is free to swim on the sea.

No comment!

The beach is also nice.

ACTIVITIES

At the language faculty, there are many activities for the students. Students not only study, but also have some good time as well. They celebrate the special days like 8 March Women's day, Great Patriotic War (9th of May), New year etc. They also organize a mini conference for the international students. Students are able to make presentations in Russian language. They receive certificate at the end and the best presentations and papers are published in the journal of the faculty.

The students are singing on the 9th of May, for the memory of the lost soldiers on the II. World War.

After the concert, the students are with their history teacher.

The event, organized for the International Women's Day. The students from different countries sang a song in their own languages and in Russian language.

9th May

The students are out on an excursion, visiting all the monuments of the city of Makhachkala

French night

Fireworks on the Constitution of Dagestan, July 2015

Trip to Derbent City. The oldest city of Russia.

Presenting the cultures and traditions of Dagestan

Visit to the Museum

There is good friendship in Dagestan :)

Turkish men and Indonesian girls are with the teacher Olga :)

Turkish night :)

Skating :)

Paschal :)

CULTURE AND ART

It was very surprising for me to find out that there are 7 theaters in Makhachkala. Two of them are Russian, and the 5 of them are national theaters such as Avars theater, Khumuk theater, Lak theaters and two others.

Khumuk Theater

Concert in Russian Theatr

Planetary

Russian Theater and the monument of Rasul Gamzatov, famous Dagestani writer.

ANZHI MAKHACHKALA PLAYS İN THE RUSSIAN PREMIER LEAGE

Anzhi Makhachkala did some remarkable transfers in recent years. Samuel Et'o, Roberto Carlos, Lassana Diarra are some of them. Right now (2015), Anji Makhachkala is in the premier league and plays its games in ''Anji Arena''. The stadium's 30.000. The tickets are compraring to Europe, very very cheap (around 150-250 Ruble - 2.5 - 4 Euros).

Anzhi Makhachkala - Lokomotiv Moskova (July 2015)

Anzhi Makhachkala - Samara, The first week of Russian Premier League (July 2015).

Sport activities are very very widespread in Makhachkala. Almost everyone does sport here. Wrestlings of Dagestan are very well know here in Dagestan.

Famous sportsmen from Dagestan. The first one is Ali Aliev. He was 10 times world champion in freestyle wrestling.

It is a good habit from the Soviet time that people love sport. You can see pull up bars everywhere in city. Just in front of the stadium, there is a big sport hall for students. Right next to it, there is a football stadium. The students can play football when they have free time. If interested, the students can also do sports like wrestling, boxing, fitness etc.

RACISM

Unfortunately racism is a big problem in Russia recently. You can read many articles and news about it. It is often said that people aren't don't even really know what racism is. They do it without even knowing what racism is. In Dagestan, I haven't witnessed any racism issues. I have my friends from Africa who live here, from South Korea, from Arabic countries, From Central Asia and Far East. I have specifically asked them and all answered that they haven't witnessed any racism. On the north of Russia, in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other main Russian cities, racism has been very common recently. In Dagestan, over 30 nations live together and respect both each other and the foreigners.

NATURE

There are of course much more to say about Dagestan, I am not able to mention them all here, since I have fallen in love with Dagestan, I might be boring for others when I loong loong talk about Dagestan. I even think about writing my dissertation about Dagestan. But before finishing, I must get back to the beautiful nature of Dagestan. Its really worth seeing.

The Forest in Makhachkala

The nature Tolstoy and Pushkin talked about

Caspian Sea

Sunset in Caspian Sea in Makhachkala

Makhachkala - Caspian Sea

Derbent

There is an airport in the city of Makhachkala and train station. You can travel to the main cities of Russia by plane, of train or by bus.

The railroad in Makhachkala.

Makhachkala Train Station and the statue of Mahach Daghadaeva, the revolutionist, eponym of the city.

The main square of the city. The statue of Lenin

Russian lesson

Women's Day

Presenting the cultures of Dagestan

There are many nations in Russia, however people are very keen to their Russian Federation relations. These are the people from Dagestan who lost their lives in the II. World War.