An immersion program like Middlebury has huge advantages over just moving to Russia for a month. Off the top of my head:
In Russia, everyone with any English will talk to you in English. People want to practice their English - or just communicate more efficiently - more than they want to help you practice your Russian.
In Russia, the people you meet often have no interest in conversing with someone who speaks Russian poorly. (Russians make great friends, but they're not the outwardly warmest people to strangers.)
In Russia, when you do find someone to speak with, that person won't be speaking at your level - they'll be speaking fluent Russian, and quickly.
There's language schools in Russia, but it's unlikely that you'll find one with as good teachers, and the curriculum won't be as intensive.
Living in an unfamiliar country where you don't speak the language can be stressful like you wouldn't believe - it's not the same thing as tourism. Language learning while dealing with all that crap is way harder than language learning while living like a pampered college student in a pleasant little Vermont town.
http://www.middlebury.edu/ls/
http://www.miis.edu/academics/language/programs/summer
An immersion program like Middlebury has huge advantages over just moving to Russia for a month. Off the top of my head:
In Russia, everyone with any English will talk to you in English. People want to practice their English - or just communicate more efficiently - more than they want to help you practice your Russian.
In Russia, the people you meet often have no interest in conversing with someone who speaks Russian poorly. (Russians make great friends, but they're not the outwardly warmest people to strangers.)
In Russia, when you do find someone to speak with, that person won't be speaking at your level - they'll be speaking fluent Russian, and quickly.
There's language schools in Russia, but it's unlikely that you'll find one with as good teachers, and the curriculum won't be as intensive.
Living in an unfamiliar country where you don't speak the language can be stressful like you wouldn't believe - it's not the same thing as tourism. Language learning while dealing with all that crap is way harder than language learning while living like a pampered college student in a pleasant little Vermont town.