Dickinson College Students Develop Virtual Historic Tour of Carlisle in Russian
The tour developed by the Dickinson students included stops at the Molly Pitcher Memorial and Old West. Image courtesy of Alyssa DeBlasio, associate professor & chair of Russian at Dickinson.
Aiding the Local and Visiting Historians
by Kandace Kohr
Carlisle has long been a fascinating destination for history buffs, and it’s easy to understand why, with a rich history spanning the course of two-and-a-half centuries. To help multilingual visitors navigate Carlisle’s deep roots, Dickinson students recently developed an engaging historic virtual downtown walking tour.
This spring, students in Visiting International Scholar in Russian and Director of the Dickinson in Moscow program Irina Filippova’s Russian for Public Speaking course took part in a project that would not only help improve their language skills but also provide an opportunity to connect with the Russian-speaking community in Carlisle, all while learning more about the history of their town. Students put together a virtual walking tour around some of Carlisle’s most popular and significant historic sites, translated and narrated in Russian.
Stops on the tour include the Molly Pitcher Memorial, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the old courthouse, Denny Hall, Old West and more. While students were putting their linguistic chops to work, they also took advantage of an opportunity to learn more about the history of their home away from home. “I learned a lot about the story of Carlisle that I otherwise wouldn’t have ever learned,” says Trent Morgan ’21 (Russian). “Language-wise, it was a great way to learn new vocabulary and consult with professors in Russian.”
By the time the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis closed colleges and schools earlier this spring, Filippova’s students had dedicated many hours to this project. Thanks to the college’s quick shift to remote learning, students then connected via remote technology to continue perfecting their creation, and the experience—despite its challenges—was a rewarding one.
“The course has really helped with speaking in Russian in a formal capacity outside of conversation,” says Clara Giorgis ’21 (Russian, international studies). “It was great to be able to learn formal and professional vocabulary as well as how to speak about history and lead an engaging tour.”
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Published May 29, 2020