Children of migrants from the United States are adapting at Nizhny Novgorod's School 800.

      22 October 2025 13:27 Society

      At "School 800" in Nizhny Novgorod, a social adaptation program is being implemented for children who arrived in the region from abroad. The initiative is aimed at helping young newcomers learn Russian and integrate into the educational environment. This was reported by the publication "Komsomolskaya Pravda - Nizhny Novgorod."

      Among the project participants are the daughters of the Barben family, who moved to Russia from the U.S. state of Alabama. At Nizhny Novgorod's "School 800," the American teenagers study Russian and become acquainted with the country’s culture.

      The head of the family, Michael Barben, said the decision to move was made deliberately. According to him, Russia seemed to him a country of great opportunities. He named the language barrier as the main difficulty in adapting: "I like it here, and I feel that I can do much more than in America. The biggest challenge remains the language."

      To begin studying at a Russian school, children must confirm their knowledge of Russian. Sisters Nadya and Lyuba have already successfully passed the A1-level exam and continue classes with the goal of reaching B1. Instruction is provided in a mixed format: twice a week in person and three times online. The groups include children from different countries.

      The adaptation program was developed at the initiative of the "OKA" agency. It includes three key directions: language acquisition, participation in school life, and interaction with mentors — senior students who speak English and help newcomers adapt.

      As Kristina Valaitis-Vinober, development director of "School 800" and project curator, noted, the program supports not only the children but also their parents. In her words, these are not just language courses: "We help families become part of the school community. There are almost no teaching materials for this age group, so our teachers create them from scratch, taking into account how children from different countries perceive the language."

      The Barben family already feels confident in Nizhny Novgorod. They study local traditions and history with interest. The daughters particularly enjoyed the Maslenitsa celebrations and walks along Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street.

      Earlier it was reported that the acceptance of applications for enrollment at Nizhny Novgorod's "School 800" is conducted digitally.

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