Victoria studied Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Learning languages has been one of my favorite hobbies since elementary school: I dabbled in Latin in the 5th grade, taught myself German in 10th grade, and, most recently learned Russian using social media and movies in my junior year of college. But it was not until I lived and studied Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan, last summer that I learned that language could be much more than just a way to satisfy my intellectual curiosity. While abroad, I learned that foreign languages specifically Russian and Kazakh have put me in a position where I can improve the lives of others.
During my summer in Almaty, I was introduced to the directors of a citywide network of modern clinics that aims to bring affordable, quality healthcare to residents of Almaty. My interest in the healthcare sector stems from my desire to become a physician and work with communities both domestic and international to help them make the most of their lives. The connections I made in Almaty last summer have blossomed into mutually beneficial relationships that continue to this very day. Since my return from Kazakhstan, I have been collaborating with a team in Almaty that will reach out, interview, and educate locals on leading a healthy lifestyle through an initiative called VitAlem (Latin "vit" means livelihood, and Kazakh "alem" means world or universe). The initiative focuses mainly on educating the city's residents on the importance of preventive medicine in health outcomes and equipping them to lead a healthy life.
We have been working together on Kazakh and Russian interview materials that are aimed to help us understand the healthcare needs of Almaty's residents. Data collection and in-person interviews will help us to learn more specifically about topics that could be addressed. This information collection comprises the first step of our health initiative. And this is just the beginning! We plan to analyze the data to customize and direct our efforts to encourage preventative medicine in the coming year. Without the opportunity to live and study in Kazakhstan, I would not have been able to develop my Kazakh and Russian skills to such a point that allows me to contribute to a project that benefits the residents of Kazakhstan's largest city.
Learning a language in our home country can be enriching, satisfying, and broaden our horizons, but I truly believe that immersion makes language come to life. When we learn a foreign language at home, it is primarily about us our progress, our repertoire of vocabulary and grammar, our conversation skills. While this is wonderful, living among native speakers of our target language brings us out of ourselves and we start to see how we are connected to the global community. And in today's globalized world, a sense of community has never been more important. Language immersion abroad is one indispensable step in our journey of learning more about each other and using what we learn to bring about positive change the world over.
About Victoria
After learning about the history of Kazakhstan in college, Victoria was hooked and couldn't learn enough about the country, its language, and its culture. Though Victoria grew up in Virginia, she attended university and graduate school in California, at USC and Stanford respectively. As she now prepares for medical school, she continues to improve her Kazakh and Russian language skills while following the development of healthcare in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
About the Eurasian Regional Language Program
The Eurasian Regional Language Program (ERLP) offers intensive, highly individualized instruction in more than 15 Eurasian languages, including Armenian, Azeri, Dari, Farsi, Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Uzbek. Through homestays, conversation partners, internships, and volunteer activities, participants enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to immerse themselves in daily local life while receiving ongoing support and guidance from American Councils expert, overseas staff.
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