Socio-cultural transnational practices in Saturday Russian schools in Scotland

Authors

  • Nina N. Ivashinenko Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Nogrorod, 23, pr. Gagarina, Nizhni Nogrorod, 603950, Russian Federation; University of Glasgow, 515, Adam Smith Building, Glasgow, G12 8RS, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu12.2020.406

Abstract

How can socio-cultural transnational activities be related to the study of one’s heritage language? Why do Saturday schools promote socio-cultural transnational practices inside and outside of the learning process? Why would migrant families like to support socio-cultural transnational activities organised by the schools? This article offers answers to the questions posed above based on an investigation of four Russian schools in Scotland. Heritage language preservation is a negotiable process which flexibly responds to the interests of the parents, teachers and pupils who participate in the activities of the Russian schools and contribute to
shaping their aims. These interests can be considered as the main driving forces for a wide range of aspects of the Russian schools’ everyday life, such as educational programmes, styles of teaching, the social relationship between members of the Russian school community and additional cultural events organised by these schools. In Scotland, Russian-speaking communities bring together individuals with a range of characteristics (including different paths to migration, skills and educational levels, national identities, and countries of origin). The present study has shown the importance of this diverse composition of Russian-speaking communities to the everyday operations of the Russian schools. This contributes to the discussion
of socio-cultural transnational elements activities in everyday life of the Saturday schools and their role in the development of the migrant community. Expanding on the existing literature in this area, the research investigates socio-cultural transnational practices which unite the Russian-speaking community in Scotland itself, and create a bridge between this community and the Russian-speaking world.

Keywords:

socio-cultural transnational practices, migrant Saturday schools, heritage language

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References


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Published

2021-01-14

How to Cite

Ivashinenko, N. N. (2021). Socio-cultural transnational practices in Saturday Russian schools in Scotland. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Sociology, 13(4), 443–459. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu12.2020.406

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2020): Vestnik of Saint-Petersburg University. Sociology

Section

Language, Culture, Communication

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Sociology" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.