Renata Ilitsky Last updated: Learn Russian in Moscow: Top 5 Russian Language Programs
Learning Russian surrounded by English is doable, but difficult.
Why not take your learning a step further by surrounding yourself with an entire population that speaks the language?
If you want to completely remove all distractions while you study the Russian language, your best bet is to go straight to the source: the capital of Russia—Moscow!
Studying in Russia is ideal for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the culture and get an up-close-and-personal look at what Russian is all about!
Contents
- 1. MGU Russian Courses
- 2. Liden & Denz
- 3. Ruslanguage
- 4. HSE University Russian Language Centre
- 5. CREF Language Center
- Top Reasons to Visit Moscow
- Tips to Supplement Your Learning in Moscow
- And One More Thing...
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. MGU Russian Courses
Price: from 100$
Group courses are perfect for meeting others that are on a similar journey as you and make new friends and travel buddies. There are group courses for different levels of Russian speaking skills. Using a helpful online test to evaluate your Russian proficiency level, you can then choose an appropriate group and join during various times throughout the year.
The groups are between 8 to 10 students, and two-week courses consist of 40 academic hours, while three-week courses consist of 60 academic hours. Classes are held in the mornings, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Individual courses are geared towards those who want to accelerate their learning or want to focus on a specific topic or area. Students can study anywhere from one week to one academic year.
Private classes are held three times a week from 2 to 9 p.m at the center or from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the student’s house.
For those who will be working, interning or simply sightseeing during the day, MGU offers convenient evening classes. They’re held three times per week from 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
MGU can help you find accommodations with a host family or in the hotel, Universitetskaya, located close to the university.
After you leave Moscow, you can keep honing your Russian skills with online Russian Skype lessons from MGU!
2. Liden & Denz
Price: from 80$
There are a variety of Russian courses taught throughout the year. The courses start at different times, but include general courses, intensive courses, help with passing the TELC exam, business classes and seasonal programs during the summer and holiday breaks.
The teachers all have postgraduate degrees and are specialists in teaching the Russian language. Their goal isn’t only to teach students useful words and phrases but to help them communicate effectively in real-life situations.
You can arrange your own accommodations, or get help with one of the four options presented by the institute. This includes living with a Russian host family, in a hotel, hostel or rented apartment.
3. Ruslanguage
Price: from 30$/individual lesson online
You can start off with a free trial lesson (check the schedule first), then (if you find the program is just right for you) you’ll choose between long-term course programs (12 weeks), a full academic year (32+ weeks) or group classes.
The long-term course program, also called the Russian Intensive Bonus program, means you’ll study with a group of five to nine people and attend class four days a week with teachers from Moscow State University (MSU).
The academic year-long program is for advanced students who will then attend Russian universities or work in Russia.
Group classes are available during evenings and weekends, and meet six hours per week. As most of the students consist of diplomats, business professionals and professors, the classes are flexible and can be made up if work or a business trip get in the way of attendance.
Students enrolled in the intensive courses can stay with a host family or share a room in a shared flat. All accommodations are checked by the employees of Ruslanguage and are no more than 30 minutes from the school.
4. HSE University Russian Language Centre
Price: from $$
The HSE University Russian Language Centre stands out for its comprehensive approach to teaching Russian, attracting students with diverse language goals.
Offering group courses tailored to various proficiency levels, participants benefit from a convenient online test that guides them to the most suitable class.
With group sizes ranging from 8 to 10 students, the two-week and three-week courses provide 40 and 60 academic hours, creating an immersive learning experience.
For those seeking a personalized learning journey, individual courses offer flexibility, spanning from one week to an entire academic year.
Private classes, conducted either at the center or the student’s residence, accommodate different schedules, with evening classes available for those with daytime commitments. The center assists with accommodations, including host families and the nearby Universitetskaya hotel. Upon leaving Moscow, students can continue refining their skills through online Russian Skype lessons, maintaining a connection to their newfound language proficiency.
5. CREF Language Center
Price: from 270$
The courses, designed for individuals of all ages and skill levels, emphasize personalized attention with qualified and skilled instructors.
Participants can choose between group and individual classes, making it suitable for both students and professionals. The flexible scheduling options accommodate varying time constraints, and the courses, ranging from 10 to 16 weeks, maintain a maximum class size of 12 students.
CREF’s commitment extends beyond the classroom, offering assistance with accommodations and ensuring a smooth transition from the airport to the chosen lodgings. Whether opting for a hotel, shared apartment, or living with a host family, students can immerse themselves in Russian language and culture, making the learning experience both educational and enriching.
Top Reasons to Visit Moscow
There are so many reasons to visit Moscow, but here are some you might not have considered:
- You’ll be in the heart of Russia. Russia is an enormous country with many big cities and small villages to visit. However, nothing is quite like Moscow, with its extensive history and impressive culture.
- Learn about Russia’s past. Moscow has dozens of museums, theaters, libraries, churches and government buildings. In fact, if you were there for a few months, you could visit a new place every day!
- Check out the impressive architecture. If you’ve seen a photo of the Kremlin (Russian citadel), you already have an idea of how impressive the architecture in Moscow is. Russia has a long history, and its buildings reflect various periods. From stark buildings to colorful and adorned ones, Moscow has something for everyone’s taste!
- Restaurants offer a variety of cuisines. While Russian cuisine in itself is extensive and delicious (minus some of stranger dishes, such as herring and beet soup), there are also hundreds of international restaurants sure to please even the pickiest eater.
- Party, party, party! Work hard, play hard. During the day you can keep your focus on your studies. However, all bets are off when the sun goes down! Moscow has a world-famous nightlife, which includes bars, restaurants, lounges and clubs. Plus, you’ve never partied until you’ve visited a Russian restaurant at night, with live bands, a variety of alcohol options, tons of food and dancing! (Just make sure you’re fit to study the next day.)
Tips to Supplement Your Learning in Moscow
Whatever program you choose to learn Russian while in Moscow, speed up the process by supplementing your learning in the following ways:
- Visit the libraries. Moscow has an extensive collection of libraries. Beginners can benefit from children’s books to those that help teach Russian, while intermediate and advanced students can learn from classic Russian novels and poetry.
- Check out the movies and shows. Visit the movie theaters or catch up on Russian shows to improve your Russian. Start by watching children’s shows that use simple words and speak slower, and work your way up to dramas and comedies. You can even learn specific Russian words by including different genres.
- Use virtual immersion programs. Using immersion programs online is a good way to “dip your toes in” before actually arriving in Moscow. A program like FluentU, for example, can immerse you in the language as it’s used by native speakers through Russian videos.
FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
After using an immersion program, you’ll find you’re more used to native Russian, rather than textbook Russian which can vary from what’s used every day.
- Join a Meetup. Moscow has learning exchange groups where you can improve your Russian skills while also meeting new people. Come to the group with your questions, and leave with answers and more confidence!
We hope we’ve made your decision to learn Russia in Moscow a little easier. This capital city has everything to offer students—great cultural experiences, an active nightlife and a chance to meet people from around the world!
Pack your bags and get ready to start speaking Russian in no time!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing...
If you love learning Russian and want to immerse yourself with authentic materials from Russia, then I should also tell you more about FluentU.
FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning the Russian language and culture. You'll learn real Russian as it's spoken by real Russian people!
FluentU has a very broad range of contemporary videos. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of Russian-language content available on FluentU:
FluentU makes these native Russian videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.
Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab. Easily review words and phrases with audio under Vocab.
All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Russian learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.
And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.
The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.
Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
