"I felt the excitement of participation and trying. I wanted
to express my thoughts and feelings."
Russian Pupil
"It helps to realise a creative potential of young authors,
it encourages the development of literary taste, imagination and
individuality."
Russian Teacher
Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) is Russia's greatest poet, as revered
by Russians as Robert Burns is by Scots. Pushkin lived for some time
in St Petersburg, a beautiful city that now has museums, statues and
institutions dedicated to his memory. Nearly 30 schools in St Petersburg
take part in the Pushkin Prizes. A panel of judges in Russia selects
12 of the best entries and pupils translate their work into English
for judging by the judges in Scotland. The Russian prize-winners travel
to Scotland where they attend the creative writing course with the
Scottish winners.
The Russian pupils who come to Scotland are always eager to maintain
links. The St Petersburg schools value contact (by letter or email)
with Scottish schools and this is an effective way to introduce
pupils to another country, its people and culture. The Russian pupils
all have excellent English.
The Pushkin Prizes in Russia are administered by Natalya Ushmanova.
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