Indiana University Language Workshop: 75 Years of Immersive Language Learning

For nearly three-quarters of a century, the Indiana University Language Workshop has been a beacon for individuals seeking to immerse themselves in languages from around the world. It all started with a simple yet powerful promise: "Instruction will be completely in Russian. Students will begin speaking Russian on the first day of class and will speak it throughout the course." This commitment, printed on a trifold pamphlet in 1951, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that has shaped language education at Indiana University and beyond.

Originally conceived as a Slavic and East European languages workshop, the program has blossomed into a diverse and comprehensive hub for language learning. Today, known as the IU Language Workshop at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, it welcomes approximately 300 students and professionals each summer, offering courses in over two dozen critical and less commonly taught languages. While the scope has expanded significantly, the core principle of intense, immersive language instruction remains the same.

The workshop’s origins are deeply rooted in the Cold War era. As global tensions rose, the demand for experts in Soviet Bloc languages and cultures surged. The initial workshop catered to 40 undergraduate and graduate students. By 1965, enrollment had exploded to over 350, reflecting the growing need for language proficiency in a rapidly changing world.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the workshop’s reputation continued to grow, attracting students from across the country and beyond. The program’s success was attributed to its high-quality instructors, many of whom were leading scholars and researchers in their respective fields. Indiana University became the destination for Russian language learners, offering a unique opportunity to interact with renowned figures from both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Kathleen Evans, who has served as the director of the workshop since 2017, recalls the program’s unique atmosphere during her time as a Russian language student in the 1980s. She notes that Indiana University was not only a place to learn Russian, but also a place where one could spend the summer engaging with leading scholars.

Notable instructors, like Russian writer Nina Berberova, added to the workshop’s prestige. Berberova’s autobiography, "The Italics Are Mine," resonated deeply with Russian emigres and provided students with invaluable insights into Russian culture and identity. Carl Proffer, founder of Ardis Publishing, further enriched the workshop’s intellectual environment. Ardis became a crucial voice in the Soviet era, publishing Russian books banned by the Soviet government.

The fall of the USSR in the early 1990s marked another turning point for the workshop. Recognizing the need for expertise in the languages of the newly independent Central Eurasian republics, the program expanded its offerings to include these less commonly taught languages. Veronika Trotter, a senior collections reference assistant with IU Libraries, was surprised to find such a focus on rare languages when she came to Bloomington from St. Petersburg in 2002 to teach Russian.

She noted that, while the reputation in Europe was that Americans are monolingual, she met many bright students who were fluent not only in Russian, but in languages from Central Asian countries.

The workshop’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. Many alumni have gone on to become leading researchers, policymakers, and diplomats. IU professors Michael De Groot and Kathryn Graber are both workshop alumni, demonstrating the program’s role in shaping academic careers. Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, also attended the workshop, later receiving IU’s inaugural Richard G. Lugar Award in 2019.

While the workshop maintains its legacy in Russian and Eastern European languages, it has strategically adapted to meet new global challenges. In 2007, the workshop added Arabic to its curriculum, thanks to funding from Project Global Officer.

Indiana University distinguishes itself as a leader in language instruction. The Language Workshop collaborates with IU’s flagship programs in Arabic, Chinese, and Russian, overhauling its programs to deliver top-tier instruction and support to all students.

In 2019, IU’s Chinese Flagship Institute merged with the workshop. Now East Asian languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are among the most popular choices.

In 2020, the workshop adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning to remote learning. While Arabic, Chinese, and Russian retain an on-campus presence with small class sizes, one-on-one conversations with native speakers, and cultural activities like cooking classes and film nights hosted by native-speaking students, tour guides, ambassadors, scholars, soap opera stars and popular musicians, the remaining languages have remained online.

The shift to online learning has widened access to the workshop, particularly for nontraditional students, scholars, researchers, and individuals whose circumstances preclude moving to Bloomington for the summer. After the shift to online learning, the number of nontraditional students tripled in 2020.

The workshop also extends its reach beyond university students. Each summer, it runs the Hamilton Lugar School’s Language Summer Camp for K-6 students in Indianapolis. The camp, in partnership with the International School of Indiana, offers immersive summer camp experiences in Arabic, French, Mandarin and Chinese through fun, age-appropriate activities.

The workshop also provides opportunities for students to use their new language skills abroad. Since 1967, students have traveled to the Soviet Union and other destinations for immersive study trips. Today, many students still travel overseas for four weeks right after completing their summer courses.

From its humble beginnings as a Russian language workshop, the IU Language Workshop has grown into a dynamic and influential center for language learning, reaching across the globe. The program’s commitment to immersive instruction, combined with its ability to adapt to changing global needs, has cemented its place as a leader in language education.

Kathleen Evans states that the workshop has evolved to be so much more than just a summer workshop.