- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

First Graduates of Damascus University's Russian Language Dept Receive Diplomas

© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov / Go to the mediabankTotal Dictation annual literacy test
Total Dictation annual literacy test - Sputnik International
Subscribe
DAMASCUS (Sputnik) – The graduation ceremony for the first graduates of the Russian language department was held in the University of Damascus in Syria. The graduates earned bachelor’s degrees.

"Today is a solemn celebration for the graduates. Seventeen students graduated from our department. Of them, 10 will continue their studies in Russia. We hope that the rest will go there the next year, too. Since I have taught them for four years, I can say that they are very good people, the level [of their skills in Russian] is high. We hope that [in Russia] their skills will further improve," Khaisam Mahmood, who heads the Russian language department, told reporters.

Civilians walk in the rain past a damaged building in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town in Idlib province, Syria October 28, 2015 - Sputnik International
Moscow, Damascus Discuss Restoration of Syria's Energy Sector - Russian Minister
The popularity of Russian was on the rise in Syria with many people willing to learn this language, Mahmood added.

Ziyad Khamad, who graduated from the Russian language department, is 41. He speaks several languages and teaches English and French. Khamad told reporters he believed Russian was the most beautiful language he had heard. He added he had sold his house to continue his studies in Russia.

Elena al-Wadi, the professor at the Russian language department, said that when the center had been set up, there had been no materials to teach students with. She expressed hope that the graduates would return home from Russia in four years and teach Russian in Syria, too.

READ MORE: Moscow to Host Exhibition of Artifacts Found in Syrian Terrorist-Held Areas

The Russian language department was established in 2014 and has become the largest foreign language center of the university. The university had to build a separate building for it due to the increasing popularity of Russian in Syria.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала