Russian Courses programs in Irkutsk
Individual courses in Irkutsk
We propose a large variety of courses, group or individual Russian programs, but we recommend you to choose individual tuition. Individual tuition allows you to define your program together with your teacher, who can adapt the course to your needs and to your personal rhythm. The school offers a choice of individual programs, the minimum number of lessons per week is 16. The individual programs can also be specialized in business, art, science etc. Lessons are 45 minutes each. The schedule for individual programs can be flexible and modified at your needs. This program is the most efficient way to make fast and constant progress in Russian learning.
Group Courses in Irkutsk
There are groups of 2-3 students or groups of 4-6 students. Russian lessons in group are possible only if you stay at least a month in Irkutsk.
Students who wish to study in a group in Irkutsk are placed according to their Russian knowledge. At the first russian lesson, you will be asked to complete an assessment test in order to determine your level of Russian knowledge. A second test is offered at the last lesson, allowing you to measure your progress. At the end of the russian course in group, each student receives a certificate with the type of course completed and stating the level of Russian.
Semester Course in Irkutsk
You can also study one semester (20 weeks), attending group courses of 20 lessons per week. After one semester, you will be able to speak Russian almost fluently and you will have encountered many aspects of Russian culture and literature. Semester programs begin in September, January and May. Long-term courses are specifically designed to prepare you for the different levels of Russian language examinations that you can pass at the State Technical University, including the offical TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) or TRKI, the Russian equivalent of the TOEFL. Non-native Russian speakers with basic knowledge at the beginning of a language course should be able to achieve level 2 (advanced) after five months, and level 3 (proficiency) after a year of intensive studies. Have a look at the description of the different levels of Russian and the specific requirements of the TORFL test.
Study & Work Programs
For those who would like to work in Russia after or during their Russian studies, there are different Study&Work programs for 2 to 4 months: you study Russian in a group course during 4 or 8 weeks, and then work as a volunteer in a hospital, a school or a children’s summer camp for 4 to 8 weeks. Write us if you would like to receive more information about available positions for the internship.
Exams
During the first lesson, you will have an entry test in order to determine your level of Russian. A second exam is conducted during the last lesson, allowing you to measure your progress. At the end of the course, each student receives a certificate with a description of the type of course followed and the level of Russian language skills attained.
Duration of your Stay
Course duration depends on your wishes and varies from one week to several months. According to our methodology, students start speaking Russian immediately while learning grammar and vocabulary as well as developing speaking, listening, and writing skills concurrently. All teachers speak English or even French and German besides Russian.
Benefiting from many years of experience, we have noticed that the minimal time you will need to become familiar with the new environment and the Russian language is two weeks. If time permits, we strongly recommend you to stay for at least two weeks for your Russian course in Irkutsk. Of course the longer you stay, the more progress you will make. Beginners will need six to twelve weeks to develop the necessary Russian language skills to communicate in everyday situations and to be able to read and understand Russian literature or newspapers.
Please keep that in mind: Russian language is a complicated and difficult language to learn for foreigners. You will need to work hard to make progress. We recommend you to be familiar with the Russian alphabet prior to arrival. This will facilitate your immersion into the Russian culture, and it is in fact an easy task. Study material is available in any bookshop (check out our own online bookshop).
