Description
RUSSIAN
BLS Adult Winter Term Language Courses 2025: Accelerate your language learning
Beginner Level 1 Course (CEFR A1.1): [Tutor Debbie] online course
Thursday, 7.30-8.30pm, 10 x 60 min. lessons [on 16, 23, 30 January & 06, 13, 20, 27 February & 06, 13, 20 March 2025] £115 £105 Hurry, Early Bird discount ends 6th December! Course Programme
Beginner Level 2 Course (CEFR A1.1): [Tutor Debbie] online course
Tuesday, 7-8pm, 10 x 60 min. lessons [on 14, 21, 28 January & 04, 11, 18, 25 February & 04, 11, 18 March 2025] £115 £105 Hurry, Early Bird discount ends 6th December! Course Programme
Elementary Level 5 Course (CEFR A2.1): [Tutor Debbie] online course
Wednesday, 7-8pm, 10 x 60 min. [on 15, 22, 29 January & 05, 12, 19, 26 February & 05, 12, 19 March 2025] £115 £105 Hurry, Early Bird discount ends 6th December! Course Programme
Russian
Russian is spoken not only in Russia, but also as a vital lingua franca in all of the former Soviet republics: from Armenia and Azerbaijan, Belarus and Estonia to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. And not just as a lingua franca; it is in fact mother tongue to an estimated 80 million people in these countries, including almost one third of the population of Ukraine.
The territory of Russia is not simply big, it is gargantuan. It is 1.8 times the size of the United States and an impressive 70 times the size of Great Britain. Russia’s climate, landscape, flora and fauna variety is unprecedented. It is one of the very few countries big enough to allow seemingly incompatible things to coexist: permafrost and active volcanoes, temperatures of minus 70 and plus 43 degrees, polar bears and camels. Another astonishing, though expected fact is that a country of this size is one of the most multinational and diverse in the world. Its 150 million citizens of 160 different nationalities belong to some seventy different religions. The history of Russia too is a vast subject. Like a good library it has stories to fit any mood or taste – from heavy drama to plenty of light reading.
Catherine the Great, an Empress of Russia famous for making four mistakes in a three letter word, once said: “Russia is not a country, it’s a Universe, so many climates there are, so many peoples, languages, dispositions and beliefs.”
written by Alexandra Kingston and Debbie Warren
Ken Jaques (verified owner) –
I really enjoyed this term. Although I would prefer face to face tuition, Anna did a great job teaching on line. I found the course and homework challenging but I feel that my Russian has really improved as a result. I am looking forward to the September boost course and Autumn term. Many thanks.
Malcolm Gray (verified owner) –
Anna is very professional, competent and patient with a good sense of humour too. Not having learned anything of any language other than my native English I really struggle with Russian but am really enjoying it. I have signed up for September in the hope of further improvement. Much appreciated.
GB (verified owner) –
Started the beginners course with Anna online in April 2020. Had a great time learning, Anna did a great job over the 10 weeks teaching me from scratch with a good level of homework to me continue learning between classes. Looking forward to continuing next term.
John Oliver (verified owner) –
Really enjoyed the lessons with Anna, who made good use of technology to work around the fact we couldn’t meet face to face. Highly recommended.
GARY (verified owner) –
Excellent Course. Excellent teacher.
Giuseppe Scatigno (verified owner) –
Started the beginners course with Debbie in October 2022. The course has been excellent. After two terms with Debbie I really feel like I am making progress. The course is well structure and Debbie has been great at making sure nobody is left behind and we all stay motivated and continue learning.
I keep looking forward to the class every week.
Dianne Platt (verified owner) –
Studying Russian with Debbie is fun! She provides a very comfortable environment in which to learn. Lessons are packed with all the different language skills, which makes them well rounded, interesting and enjoyable. I have now completed the Summer Booster course and Elementary 1. I’ve signed up for Elementary 2 in January and I can’t wait to get going!!
Kirsten Hopkins (verified owner) –
I really enjoy our lessons! Russian is daunting, but Debbie makes the lessons fun and everyone feels included and supported. My work has included travel to Central Asia and interactions with Russian-speaking colleagues, and I feel very proud that I can already use basic terms to interact.