Learn Russian in St Petersburg: Language Courses
Standard Course
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 2-12 weeks |
Number of lessons | 20 group lessons per week |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per class | 12 students |
A short term Russian course in St Petersburg aimed at those who need to build on current skills or who want to kick start their language learning from scratch with an immersion course.
Communicative teaching in small groups (maximum 12 students per group) makes this course a pleasurable and productive experience. Our Standard Group Course gives participants the chance to learn communicative skills in “real life” situations. This course of 20 weekly lessons is offered year round and follows a modular pattern of two-week units. For participants staying four weeks or longer, following modules build upon the grammar basics of the first module, treating the same topics from a different angle with more in-depth explanations, more complex vocabulary, different exercises and more dialogues. Standard Group Courses are available for the first six levels year-round. Beginners may start on the dates indicated for St Petersburg in the CESA Course Finder and are advised to be familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet on arrival (it will save you a lot of time!). Each course starts on a Monday and ends on a Friday, with lessons taking place usually between 10:00 and 14:00hrs.
Intensive Course
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 2-12 weeks |
Number of lessons | 25 group lessons per week |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per class | 12 students |
Aimed at those who need to build on current skills or who want to kick start their Russian language learning from scratch, building on the Standard course with additional lessons for a more intensive immersion group course.
You will have twenty morning lessons with students who have booked the Standard group course. The remaining five lessons are taught on two afternoons, offered at a minimum of three different levels:
- A1 – Beginner: survival Russian tutorials, outdoor classes (shopping, eating out, getting streetwise, ordering theatre and cinema tickets) and telephone training (booking a restaurant table, making flight enquiries, etc.).
- A1+ / A2 – Elementary: lectures on the Russian mentality and traditions. Other topics cover a wide range of general interest subjects ranging from Russian cuisine to history.
- B1 – Intermediate / B2 – Upper Intermediate: the focus is on business and the economy. Other topics include politics, Russian mass media, cultural and historical subjects.
Combined Course
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 2-12 weeks |
Number of lessons | 20 group lessons per week |
Additional lessons | 05 or 10 private lessons |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per group class | 12 students |
A short term Russian course aimed at those who want the combined study experience of the camaraderie of the group course, with the individual attention of the private classes with a personal tutor.
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Afternoon Course
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 2-6 weeks |
Number of lessons | 15 group lessons per week |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per class | 06 students |
A short term Russian course held from 3 pm, Monday to Friday (outside of the peak summer months). Ideal for students looking for systematic Russian study, across a range of language levels, in a less intensive format.
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Private Tuition Courses
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 01 to 06 weeks |
Number of lessons | 15+ private lessons per week |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per class | 01 student |
An extremely intensive Russian Course, ideal for those who wish to make maximum language progress over one or more weeks duration. Individual classes prior to a business assignment to Russia are a very effective way to prepare for an upcoming relocation. One-to-One classes are demanding and require full concentration over a prolonged period of time.
Teacher and student jointly determine the exact content of any One-to-One course. The student is invited to specify his/her field of interests by completing the relevant Personal Needs Analysis form, which allows the Russian language school in St Petersburg staff to pre-select material, establish a study-plan and prepare a specific vocabulary.
One-to-one courses are available in varying degrees of intensity: 15, 20, 30 or 40 lessons per week. Where 30 lessons or more are booked, the student is taught by a team of two teachers each week. Individual courses can be booked throughout the year. The minimum course length is one week with each course starting on a Monday and ending on a Friday.
telc – Russian language exam
Levels offered | Beginner to Advanced |
Minimum age | 18 |
Course duration | 01 to 06 weeks |
Number of lessons | 05 private lessons per week |
supplementary to group tuition | |
Lesson duration | 50 minutes |
Maximum per class | 01 student |
Telc offers four Russian language certificates, covering all levels from A1-B2. Telc exams are closely aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), guaranteeing international comparability of language competence, which is very important for a successful career planning.
The exam tests general language competence and focuses on communicative competence, rather then academic skills. The written part lasts between 70 and 150 minutes (depending on level). The oral examination will be taken in pairs or small groups creating real-life dialogues and last 15 minutes. The telc site offers some more insights on the exam.
telc exam preparation module (compulsory)
Getting acquainted with the structure and type of tasks of the telc test are essential prerequisites for passing the exam. This is why all candidates are required to book our special telc exam preparation module (5 lessons in mini groups of maximum 5 participants), scheduled for the week of the exam (Friday is exam day). This module, added to any of our regular courses guarantees the best possible preparation for the exam. Students can book the exam either at the time they sign up for a course or after starting their course. Booking deadline is 4 weeks prior to the exam date.
At A1 level you can communicate in a very simple way about needs of a concrete type (e.g. introductions, food and drink, shopping, say where you live.) You can use a few very basic grammatical constructions.
The A1 test consists of a written and an oral part. The written exam lasts 70 minutes. The oral exam usually takes place straight after the written exam, without any preparation time and lasts 15 min.
At A2 level you can communicate in a simple way in typical everyday situations. In a familiar context you can hold short conversations. You can use simple grammatical structures correctly.
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The written exam lasts 80 minutes. Before the oral exam you have 15 minutes preparation time. The oral exam, lasting 15 min can take place on the day of the written exam or on another day.
At B1 level you can communicate in a simple and connected way in everyday
situations, while travelling and when talking about topics that are of personal interest. You can describe experiences, hopes and ambitions and give reasons for opinions. On the whole you can use the most important grammatical structures correctly.
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The written exam lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Before the oral exam you have 20 minutes preparation time. The oral exam, lasting 15 min, can take place on the day of the written exam or on another day.
At B2 level you can express yourself clearly and explicitly and also successfully discuss and negotiate. You have a large command of the vocabulary needed for your field of specialisation and for most general topics. Your usage of grammar is sound.
The exam consists of a written and an oral part. The written exam lasts 2 hours 20 minutes. Before the oral exam you have 20 minutes preparation time. The oral exam, lasting 15 min, can take place on the day of the written exam or on another day.
Start Dates and Prices: Contact the CESA office for details