Russian School of Tampa teaching students Russian language

CLEARWATER -- 

Students at a Bay area school are keeping a tradition alive by learning their family's second language.

The students are learning Russian at the new Russian School of Tampa. Though Tampa is in the school's name, the school is actually located in the Clearwater's Feather Sound area.

The school is the only one of its kind in the Tampa Bay area.

"It helps me with my grammar in Russian, and to speak Russian, and talk to my grandma," said student Alexander Austin. "She's from Russia and I can communicate with her."

Most of the students at the school have parents or relatives who have lived in Russia or still live in the motherland. The language skills being taught are through the efforts of teacher Irina Stuart.

"It's second language, but they still can speak Russian, have great practice, speak to each other -- not only to parents -- and practice in the class, in the playsaid Stuart.

A stage play is part of the school's extracurricular program.

"We do songs, and the plays are in Russian, so we talk in Russian," said student Rehna Halprin.

Not only are the students learning through plays and interaction with their teacher and other students, they're also opening doors the door that allows them to communicate with their Russian relatives.

"She made a card for my parents and sent it to Russia," said Rehna's mother, Natalya Halprin. "She wrote everything herself."

"I said I love them and hi," said Rehna Halprin.

Her mother is happy she's learning the language of her grandparents and is growing as a student.

"I think it's good for the brain," she said. "The more they learn, the bigger the brain is."

With every learned syllable, the students are bridging the gap between two cultures.

The Russian School of Tampa holds sessions on Saturdays. Students can attend if they know Russian or are just beginning.