Q and A with Dr. Alla Guslyakova,
Director of Jameson Global – Moscow

In September of 2015 Jameson Global – Moscow (JGM) was established in the Russian Federation. The new director of JGM is Dr. Alla Guslyakova, who recently agreed to an interview so we could find out a little more about our newest JG director.

Alla, tell us about yourself?

I was born in the Ukraine, in Odessa and spent my childhood on the coast of the Black Sea. When I was twelve years old my family moved to live in Russia, in the Urals. I spent my student years in the city of Chelyabinsk where I graduated from two faculties (the faculty of Foreign Languages and the faculty of Information Technologies) of the Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University. My university degrees helped me to speak two foreign languages – English and French and understand the basic principles of mathematics and computer science.

Later on, I used this knowledge in my PHD dissertation which was dedicated to the analysis of American slang in the US print media, and its influence on its readers’ conscience. I defended my PHD thesis in 2008 in Moscow at Moscow Pedagogical State University.

Why did you choose to study in the USA? How did your parents feel about you moving to the USA to go to school?

While studying in the faculty of Foreign Languages in Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University, I learned that the best way to improve your knowledge of a foreign language is to live for a while in the country of the language you study. I had two alternatives of where to go – Great Britain or the US. My parents wanted me to go to the UK first, because it is located in Europe, and it’s only a three-hour flight compared to a nine-hour transatlantic flight to New York. As a student I wanted not only to master English, but also to earn some money. The US law provided more opportunities for students during their summer holidays (for example, 40 hours a week, overtime etc.) which meant higher student’s financial profits. Besides, I have always loved big countries with multinational cultures. Finally, I decided to travel to the US, and it was the right decision. I spent a wonderful summer on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey in 2002.

You returned to the USA a second time. How was that experience?

My second visit to the USA was in 2009, and it was an absolutely different experience. While working on my PHD research focused on American slang in the US media world, I accidentally learned that the Russian government sponsored graduate research projects if they have a scientific sense and correspond to the high standards of Russian and international science. I decided to apply for support of my research project to the Grant of the President of Russian Federation. Luckily the Scientific Expert Board, as well as the Ministry of Education and Science, became interested in my dissertation and chose me as a nominee for the President of Russian Federation Scholarship. This scholarship allowed me to spend time at an American University. A friend of mine had studied English language at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) before and recommended this school to me. It was an amazing academic experience.

How is American university life different than your Russian university life in your opinion?

While living at UCA (Arkansas) it was really interesting to compare the university life and system in the USA and in Russia. In Russian universities there are only two semesters (the fall semester and the spring semester) which are longer than the US terms. In summer Russian students have two months of vacation. At the same time, in American universities, students can take summer classes if they have a desire, time and opportunity to study which helps them graduate from their schools earlier. Russian university programs contain more subjects (especially, theoretical courses), hence the Russian higher education is more academically rigorous. The American university system is more flexible and provides its students with more independence and freedom to make their own decisions. In my opinion, both Russian and American educational systems are successful, but in different ways.

How did you adjust to American culture? What are some ways it is different than your own country’s culture?

I didn’t have any particular problems with adjusting to the American culture. I think, Russia and the USA have a lot in common. Both countries are big, multinational and democratic. The globalization and open borders which exist nowadays give a lot of opportunities to travel, study and do business. In the Russian Federation there are famous American companies like McDonalds, Starbucks, Apple, Microsoft etc. and their presence brings together our cultures. I also know that the USA and Russia have multiple business projects which bond our countries closer which we may think.

Perhaps, the differences that might exist between our countries are weather (in the US it is warmer), eating habits, some approaches to religion, work and family life.
How does your American experience help you with your career and/or life?

Traveling, working and studying in the USA made me a more independent and confident person. I believe, these human qualities are very important for every individual. In terms of my academic work, the US experience is significant because it helped me to build up and understand the concept of the modern world and its further development and evolution. Each time I travel oversees, l discover some new knowledge about other peoples and admire all the beauty and diversity of the planet we are living in today.

You recently directed a summer study abroad program. Why did you choose to bring a group of your Russian students to study in the USA?

I really wanted to share my youth experience with my own students. I think it’s every teacher’s duty and responsibility to help his/ her students become mature and enthusiastic explorers of the new frontiers of our world. I knew that this US traveling experience would change their life views, enhance their personalities, and open new, useful and positive human qualities in them.

What is something that you wish you would have known before you came to the USA to study at a university?

Honestly, there is nothing I regret about my US experience or before it. The only thing I really wish I could change is seeing my good American friends more often.

What advice would you give to an international student considering coming to the USA to study?

I would like to quote Steve Jobs who once said to Stanford students: “Stay hungry and Think different!” So I advise all students to stay hungry for new knowledge, to not be afraid of making their own life decisions, to think in their own unique way, and at least once in their lives to visit, live or study in the US on a short-term or long-term basis.

What do you see the future of Jameson Global in Russia?

I believe, the international educational project Jameson Global – Moscow has its big positive perspectives at the epoch of multiple educational reforms in Russian Federation as well as in the modern world. A new philosophical approach towards the human education where an active learning process is built on the universal values of tolerance, solidarity, equality, justice, inclusion, co-operation and non-violence will inspire Russian and American students to travel and study in the United States and in Russian Federation or other foreign countries. The JG-Moscow project is also an important part of cementing friendship between our countries which have a lot of identical national values and traditions. Therefore, Jameson Global Moscow is not only international education, but also cooperation towards our common goal to make global education more accessible and qualitative for future generations.

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