The Russian language is one of the most difficult languages in the world. However, over 250 million people speak Russian fluently, which makes it the fifth most common language in the world. Besides Russia, Russian is spoken in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, Latvia, and so on. If you want to learn something more than ‘yellow-blue-bus’ (which sounds like ‘I love you’ in Russian), check out Russian language courses in Russia.

• Which courses can I take in Russian schools abroad?

  There are plenty of Russian courses in Russia for foreigners. The two most popular destinations are Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Both these cities are well-known for their rich historical and cultural heritage. There, you will find the best art museums, leading theatres, great shopping malls, trendy restaurants, bars, and clubs.

  The schools in Russia offer Russian programs both for adults and kids. You can opt in for standard group or individual classes, choose intensive or immersive lessons, or focus on Business Russian if you study the language for work. Let’s look at each of these Russian courses more closly.

  Standard group courses are usually focused on four major language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing. These courses are arranged in mini-groups of up to 8 people and provide students with plenty of opportunities to practice. The small size of the group provides each student with individual attention from the teacher. No question would go unanswered during these classes. Normally, the standard course is a part-time course. There are 20 lessons per week with plenty of time for students to explore Russia and visit tourist sites.

  Intensive group courses are similar to standard ones. They consist of 30 or more lessons per week. Choose this type of courses if you want to study the language in Russia more intensively. You can find more information on both standard and intensive group courses at EDUCA Russian Language School in Saint Petersburg.

  Individual courses for international students are a great opportunity to dig deeper into the Russian language and get the maximum use of their time in Russia with a native teacher. During these lessons, attention will be focused on the individual needs of a particular student and he will get tailored classes. This way, they can better understand difficult topics and explore the subjects of their personal interest. The price for individual courses is slightly higher, however, the efficiency of each class is much higher. The best part? Only you decide how many hours per week you will spend studying Russian in Russia. In ProBa Language Centre in Saint Petersburg, they offer individual Standard, Semi-Intensive, Intensive and Mastership courses. You choose the intensity that is best for you: you can have from 15 up to 36 weekly individual classes.

  In some Russian language schools, you can find immersive Russian courses. For instance, look at Full Immersion or Live & Learn courses in EDUCA Russian Language School in Saint Petersburg. These courses mix traditional in-class lessons and outdoor lessons. After having learned the grammar in class, the students get a perfect opportunity to practice their skills in real-life situations — in streets, shops, cafes, etc. The practice runs under the attentive supervision of a teacher. It will help students feel more comfortable and confident while communicating, and eventually overcome the language barrier.

  If you study Russian for business purposes, you can consider a Business Russian course at EDUCA Russian Language School. This course not only helps you to develop all basic language skills in Russian but also covers business vocabulary and writing. After this course, you will be able to communicate in Russian in a working environment with confidence.

• Accommodation

  Our language schools in Russia offer you accommodation in a private apartment, shared apartment, or with a host family.

  Staying with a host family is the opportunity to immerse yourself deeper into the local culture and explore the local lifestyle. Usually, you have breakfast and dinner included. You will need to follow the house rules, e.g. eating and showering at a particular time, no late-night visitors, etc.

  Staying in a shared flat can be a great way to meet other international students and make friends while learning a language. Together, you can practice Russian out of class and plan some trips or tours.

  If none of these options appeal to you, you can always find your own accommodation in any part of the city. Hotel, a hostel, or an Airbnb flat, — the choice is yours.

• Learning materials

  All Russian language schools will provide you with textbooks, printouts for tests and exercises during your classes. However, you may want to bring a notepad, a few pens and a little dictionary to use during classes.

  However, you may want to purchase some magazines, newspapers or books in Italian during your visit. With them, you will be able to practice reading with authentic Italian texts when you are back home.

• Budget

  When travelling to Russia, you will visit some tourist attractions, such as museums, galleries, theatres, and theme parks. You can check their websites for ticket info and prices in advance to plan how much money to take with you. Often, purchasing the tickets in advance online can be cheaper!

  Don’t forget to include in your budget some money for food, public transport and souvenirs. We will send you some tips and insights about staying abroad before your trip to help with planning. On average, you should take at least $55 per day of your stay.

• Internet and Mobile Service

  When travelling to Russia, you will be in the roaming zone and the charges for calls, messages and Internet usage can be high. The best way to get ready for your trip is to consult your mobile provider beforehand. Check with them what the prices are and if they offer any package deals.

  Otherwise, you can buy a Russian SIM-card — order it online before the trip and get it delivered to your home address or check out prepaid SIMs in the airports. Three major mobile providers in Russia are MTS, Beeline and Megafone.

• Transport

  Both Moscow and Saint Petersburg offer a good public transport network. In both cities, you can find the underground called “Metro”, buses, trams, and taxis. The prices are fixed per ride and if you are planning to travel a lot around the city, it will be cheaper to buy transport cards and top them up at the stations.

  To travel between cities, you can use trains or buses. The latter is a cheaper but much slower option. The tickets for all trains can be purchased online at the website of Russian Railways (rzd.ru) or in the ticket offices at the station. For long-distance trains, you can purchase tickets up to 120 days before the date of the trip, so you have a great chance to plan your travel in advance. Tickets for local trains are usually available on the day of the travel only.

• Climate

  The weather in Russia significantly depends on the region. Most of the country lies in a moderate climate zone with average temperatures in summer around +16-+23°C and winter between −5 and −12°C.

  In winter months, the daily temperatures both in Moscow and Saint Petersburg go below 0°C and snow is lying on the streets throughout the whole season. However, there is central heating in all houses and public buildings and it is always on during the winter season. There are also heaters in public transport so you won’t be cold while coming to Russia in winter.

  In summers, there are both hot sunny days with temperatures reaching up to +30°C and cold rainy days when you'll need warm clothes and an umbrella. Generally, in Saint Petersburg, it is more windy and rainy than in Moscow because the city is on the shore of the Baltic Sea.

  When planning your trip, check the weather forecast for the cities you are planning to visit and pack your suitcase accordingly.

• Food

  When coming to Russia, you will want to try local traditional dishes, such as borsch, pelmeni, bliny, caviar, cutlets, etc. You will find a variety of restaurants offering your traditional cuisine. The prices may range from a fast-food level — a typical dinner for one will cost about 350 rubles (about $6) to luxury restaurants with a dinner for one at 2500 rubles (about $40).

  Russians themselves prefer international cuisines, so you will easily find Chinese, Georgian, Italian, Japanese, Thai and fusion restaurants in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The prices in a fast-food chain will be about 250–350 rubles ($4–6) per person per meal; in popular cafes and restaurants — about 800–1200 rubles ($14–20) per person per meal; and at high end premium restaurants — about 1500–3000 rubles ($25–50) per person per meal.

  If you are looking for cheap and authentic places to eat, try canteens. Here, you can find a wide selection of Russian and European dishes at a low price; the meal for a person here will cost about 150–300 rubles ($2.5–5).