Russian beginners: an introduction
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: LR141
Duration: 4 sessions (over 2 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The course aims to enable students to communicate simply in Russian, to understand and use the language for travel or social purposes and to enjoy and appreciate the cultural background of Russian speaking countries.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
Greetings, asking about meaning and pronunciation of words, numbers, spelling, food and drink, asking for repetition, personal information, identifying people, description of people.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- introduce yourself, say hello and goodbye
- identify objects and ask about meaning of words, spell words
- give and ask for basic information about yourself and others
- describe and identify people
- order in a restaurant
- buy items in a shop.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous knowledge of Russian is required.
For further details of the specific foreign language skills required for this level, please see the languages self-assessment chart, using the link at the top of this page. You can also find the chart at the start of the languages section in our course guide. You will also need to be able to respond to simple instructions and read course documents in English and be at ease with the use of number for daily activities (e.g using money, telling the time, etc).
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course is based on the communicative approach:
- active students’ interaction
- emphasis on speaking and listening skills
- pair and group work
- role plays
- use of realia, pictures and authentic material
- use of audio-visual techniques when appropriate
Please note, students are expected to participate in oral classroom activities and to do some homework as and when required.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Based on the teacher's own material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please speak to your tutor.
Marina de Yong is a highly motivated and energetic professional with an extensive subject knowledge. Marina has over 20 years experience as a Russian teacher with a proven record of teaching, supporting, coaching and training students to achieve their goals. Marina is passionate about Russian culture and uses it to bring the curriculum alive. She often shares and discusses words' etymology, customs and traditions with the students and likes to draw on Russian songs in her lessons to enliven pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar practice.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
