The Life and Times of Svetlana Grigorevna Ter-Minasova [From the Archives]

A very unusual episode, where returning guest-panelist Safine Hakamaki (Née Ashirova) co-hosts an interview with Henry of the esteemed Svetlana Grivorevna Ter-Minasova. In this episode, Henry and Safie discuss the life of Professor Ter-Minasova, from her early childhood during WWII up through the present, where she continues to work as the Founding President of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies at Moscow State University! During this oral-autobiography, we learn why she credits Joseph Stalin with saving her life, what it was like growing up during WWII and the immediate aftermath, and her career as the "Mother" of Soviet (and subsequently Russian) foreign language education. We're sure you'll enjoy!

Svetlana Grigorevna Ter-Minasova is the founder and President of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Area Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and retains a position as Professor Emeritus at the university. She has been Chairperson of the Foreign Languages Teaching Council (part of the Ministry of Education) since 1987. Among many other credits, she also has been the Founding President of both National Association of Applied Linguistics and National Association of Teachers of English. Her book "Notes by a Soviet Dinosaur", came out in 2015, and has been excerpted in East-West Review.

Safie Hakamaki is a Russian linguist and foreign language educator. You can follow her telegram channel @amusing_musings.

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