Embedded program provides students with immersive experience in Armenian culture

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — What does it really mean to immerse in a culture?

Sure, people watch documentaries, sample different cuisines and maybe even attempt to learn a language before life inevitably gets in the way. But true immersion? That’s another story altogether — one that a select group of Penn State students recently experienced when they traveled into the heart of Armenia.

The “Cultural Immersion in Post-Soviet Armenia” program isn’t just a class, but a full-fledged experience providing a deep dive into the history, language and identity of a country that exists at the intersection of Europe and Asia. This one-credit embedded course, developed by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures in the College of the Liberal Arts, gives students enrolled in various Russian and Ukrainian courses an all-access immersion in the rich culture of Armenia — from the bustling streets of the capital city of Yerevan, to the ancient monasteries that have stood the test of time.

The trip, led by Irina Mikaelian, teaching professor of Russian, and Adrian Wanner, distinguished professor of Slavic languages and comparative literature, was one of the three embedded programs offered by the College of the Liberal Arts over spring break. The programs give Penn State students immersive, short-term international experiences tied to semester-long courses, deepening their understanding through hands-on learning abroad.

For Veronika Miskowiec, a third-year Paterno Fellow triple majoring in international politics, Russian and African studies, with a minor in Spanish, the opportunity to explore Armenia felt like a natural next step, she said. She had previously visited other post-Soviet countries, including one through a Penn State program, but Armenia offered something different.

“As soon as the program was announced, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go,” she said.

She said what stood out to her most after the trip was Armenia’s unique blend of identity and geography.

“It was fascinating to see how Armenians view their place in the world — as a country shaped by its Soviet past but also distinct, situated between Europe and Asia,” she said.

She said she was also struck by how those perceptions differed from or mirrored post-colonial transitions elsewhere.

“I knew that the context in which Armenia gained independence was quite different from other parts of the world, but it was interesting to learn about their history compared to other independence stories I was familiar with, like those of African countries, for example,” she said. “It's like comparing apples to oranges — you just can't.”

The program offered far more than sightseeing. Over the course of a week, students toured Yerevan and its surrounding areas, visited centuries-old monasteries, explored museums and learned about Armenia’s complex political history. They met with local students, took part in a traditional cooking class, attended a film screening and even spent time at a local charity organization — experiences that brought the country’s contemporary culture into focus alongside its ancient roots.

“These embedded programs are always jam-packed, exciting experiences that enable us to see a lot in a short period of time,” Miskowiec said. “Professionally, it’s another showcase of applying what I learned in the classroom to real-world experiences. It’s something I can add to a resume, talk about in job interviews, etc.”

Securing funding for education abroad programs can be daunting, but Miskowiec found enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network and the Schreyer Honors College.

“My advice is to think of everything you’ve ever been a part of at Penn State and see if they can help you,” Miskowiec said. “People here want to make sure you make the most of your time, so there are often hidden spots to find funding.”

Another student on the trip, Katherine Percival, is pursuing a math major in the Eberly College of Science with plans to double major in linguistics in the College of the Liberal Arts. Her love of languages — particularly Russian — led the first-year student to the program.

“I find the intellectual approach to math and language to be very similar,” she said. “My interest in linguistics led me to take Russian for my foreign language requirement, and this program was a wonderful opportunity to travel to a country where many people speak Russian.”

For Percival, the connection between her studies and Armenian culture was particularly exciting, she said.

“I experienced aspects that I think mostly connect to my language studies, although I did learn that historically the Armenian alphabet was also used as a number system, with each letter having a unique numerical value assigned to it,” Percival said. “When we visited the manuscript museum in Yerevan, it made my day to see a multiplication table written using this system.”

Both Miskowiec and Percival view the embedded program as an invaluable addition to their academic and personal development. Miskowiec said global experiences like this are essential to her understanding of international politics.

“It’s interesting to hear the things I’ve learned about history, geopolitics and international relations being either reaffirmed or contested,” she said.

Meanwhile, Perciva said, she is excited to continue her language studies, having been enriched by her time in Armenia.

“As I continue learning Russian, this experience will definitely enrich my studies,” she said. “I feel very encouraged to continue searching for opportunities to learn more about different cultures where Russian is spoken, and I look forward to studying abroad again while at Penn State.”

Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network

The Career Enrichment Network empowers Liberal Arts students to explore, engage and define their career journey through diverse career development opportunities. Students can meet with a career coach to explore careers, internships, education abroad, research, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and more. Through donor support, the Career Enrichment Network provides Liberal Arts students the opportunity to apply for funding to help support participation in many of these experiences.