Study Russian in Kaliningrad

Next to the dunes of the Baltic sea
In the country of amber and
Teutonic knights

for students, teachers, journalists and for all, who would like to discover Russia not without knowing its language

Kaliningrad today

Kaliningrad's cathedral

The Baltic sea in Svetlogorsk

Kaliningrad is located at the western far end of boundless Russia. As an enclave situated between Poland and the Baltic states, it lives its own life even if it does not forget its Russian soul neither its language, which remained very pure. The nature is still very wild, with its swamps, its fallow fields, its immense blue skies and the Baltic coast, that foreign tourists continue to ignore in spite of its long sandy beaches.

The city of Kaliningrad itself, the capital city of the enclave, is one of Russia's greenest, most tree-lined. Above all, it is one of these places that history chooses to make civilizations confront each other: drab Soviet architecture stands next to some of the most picturesque avenues you will find anywhere in Russia - all in the German sectors which survived the war. Since a few years, young creative people make it a very dynamic place.

Today, Kaliningrad's population is almost only Russian: after World War II, people came from all over the ex-USSR to replace the deported Germans. Kaliningrad is the best place to study Pushkin's language while looking for the Teutonic Knights' last traces! You will also be able to visit the highest sand dunes of Europe, the world's largest amber mine, Swedish castle ruins, the headquarters of Russia's Baltic Fleet and other even more surprising wonders.

It is good to know that the everyday life has eased since the end of the nineties, offering foreign visitors all what they need.

You can go to Kaliningrad all year round and the city is well linked to the rest of the world, thanks to its international airport and train station.

Study Russian in Kaliningrad

The School is located in the ancient German neighborhood with its beautiful quiet villas. It is close to the city center by public transportation.

The professors have a long experience in teaching Russian to foreigners and speak all at least one foreign language (mainly English, but also French or German). They use a method based on the immersion, Russki Express, developed by the Center for Linguistic of Moscow and certified by the UNESCO.

Courses

You have a large choice of individual classes : standard of 20 lessons per week or intensive of 30 lessons per week, each lesson lasting 45 minutes. You can also live and study at your teacher's place, which is the most efficient way to make rapid and constant progress. If you want to ally holiday and courses, you can also take lessons in one of the coastal resorts of the Baltic sea, like Svetlogorsk. Do not hesitate to ask for an offer.

We strongly encourage you to take individual classes where the program is custom built by the teacher in accordance to the needs of the student. One-to-one tuition guarantees fast progress and an optimal focus on needed language skills.

You can also follow group lessons (max. 6 persons) of 20 lessons per week. These courses are available if there are enough other interested persons with the same level as you.

The Mikhaďlovs' guesthouse

The countryside of the Kaliningrad's region

Different Summer courses will take place which combine holiday and study:

Summer School I: June 1 - June 21
Summer School II: June 22 - July 12
Summer School III: July 13 - August 2
Summer School IV:August 3 - August 23

At the first lesson, you will write a test in order to determine your level of knowledge. A second test is offered at the last lesson, allowing you to measure your progress. At the end of the course, each student receives a certificate with the kind of course he followed and his level of Russian.

You can also prepare and pass one of the levels of the TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) at the Saint Petersburg State University. This test is somewhat equivalent to the TOEFL test of English speakers and highly recommended for students who wish to apply for jobs in Russia or academic institutions. 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 study.

Duration of your stay

From numerous experiences we have learnt that the minimal time you will need to get acquainted with the new environment is two weeks. However, if time permits, we strongly recommend you to stay for at least four weeks. The longer you stay, the more progress you will make, obviously. Beginners will need six to twelve weeks in order to develop the language skills necessary to communicate in an every-day-situation, and to be able to read and understand texts.

Keep in mind: Russian is a complicated and difficult language to learn for foreigners and you will need to work hard on your progress. We require that you are familiar with the Russian alphabet prior to departure. This will facilitate your immersion into the Russian culture, and is, in fact, an easy task. Study material is available in any bookshop (check out also our own online bookshop).

Application | TITLE

Applications should come as soon as possible, latest four weeks before departure. Download the application form, print it, fill it in and send it to us per post or per fax, together with a copy of your passport. We will send you a confirmation and an official invitation to apply for a visa at the Russian consulate of your country as soon as you will have paid the application fee.

Accommodation | TITLE

The house of one of the families hosting foreign students

The best way to practice Russian is to stay with a family. All families hosting students live close to the School and the city center, in the old German neighborhood. They offer accommodation in a separate room.

You can also stay in an apartment, a studio or a hotel for a wide range of prices. Please ask for an offer!

Transfer

At your arrival and departure, our partner in Kaliningrad will welcome you and drive you from the airport/train station to your place of accommodation and back.

Cultural program and travel | TITLE

The Curonian Spit: the dunes

At your arrival in Kaliningrad, you will have the possibility to follow a guided tour of the city. The school also offers to its students a free excursion in Kaliningrad or in its surroundings per week (as a rule, tours are in Russian). These excursions will allow you to discover the rich history and the wonderful nature of the region, for example the Curonian Spit and its gigantic dunes.

You can also meet Russians in order for you to practice the language and to better know the inhabitants of the enclave. If you wish, the school will find a tandem partner for you : a Russian student who learns your mother tongue and with whom you can speak alternatively in each other's language.

We can help you organize a trip in Russia, too. Moscow is only 1 1/2 hour by plane away, and the Trans-Siberian rail track brings its passengers to the far east until Beijing and Vladivostok through the wonderful Baikal lake. And for airline tickets and hotels throughout Russia, why not book online ? We also have further travel info on our tips and tricks page.

Services | Our services

Language courses (individual or group tuition)^*
Teaching material
Certificate of Russian^*
4 hours guided tour of the city of Kaliningrad^*
Day's trip to either National Park "Curonian Spit" or the Baltic resorts in Svetlogorsk, amber mining and the marine base in Baltyisk. One tour per week^*
City plan^*
Transfers from/to the airport/train station
Invitation for the visa and local registration^*
Accommodation (family, apartment or hotel)
Organization of travels across Russia

^*Included in the price of the course

Prices | TITLE

We are committed to offer high quality courses that exactly fit your needs, but are also affordable to students. We can only do so from our own experience as students in Moscow and Russia and from our ten years practice in sending students to Russia. (-->About us).

Courses

Ordinary courses

	20 h./week		30 h./week
	individual	group	individual
Per week	240 EUR	160 EUR	360 EUR

Summer courses 3 weeks group course : 860 EUR (20h./week, accommodation with a family, 1 meal per day, transfers, material, invitation letter and registration of visa)

Accommodation with a family, per week :

	single room	double room
without meal	90 EUR	145 EUR
1 meal per day	110 EUR	175 EUR
half board	150 EUR	240 EUR

Rebate of 10% on the price of courses + accommodation :

courses of 10 weeks and more
courses taking place before May, 1st 2008
if you study for the second time at the school

Transfers to and from Kaliningrad airport/railway: 40 EUR (20 EUR one way)
Teaching materials (text book, work book, tapes): 30 EUR

Application fee : 150 EUR

General conditions |

a) Liability

Ziegler & Partner Ltd., a registered company in Switzerland (GmbH under Swiss law), with representatives in the US and Moscow, shall not be liable in connection with its contracted services for (a) incidental, consequential, special or indirect damages of any sort, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, even if Ziegler & Partner GmbH has been informed of the possibility of such damages, or (b) for any claim by any other party. Liability is limited to double the contracted sum.

b) Application and validity of contract

Application should be announced in written form at least four weeks before departure, for later applications an express tariff may be added. The contract will only be valid after an initial deposit is received. The deposit is due 20 days before any of the contracted services start.

c) Cancellation and reimbursement

Cancellation of any contracted program prior to departure costs USD 100 and must be announced in written form, fax or by email. Costs for visa and already issued transportation tickets cannot be reimbursed. Cancellation of any contracted service after arrival in Russia must be announced at least 10 days before becoming effective. Ziegler & Partner GmbH will fully reimburse unused services.

d) Prolongation

Prolongation of courses and stay in Kaliningrad is only possible after contacting our local partner who will take care of your visa extension.

e) Change of program

The program is subject to change. If we cannot find an equal replacement, you will be reimbursed the difference in value. Changes in prices will be announced until 21 days before departure. If not explained or if exceeding 10 % of the contracted sum, you can cancel the contract without further costs within 6 days.

f) Insurance

Every participant must be insured for accident and illness during his stay under the contracted program. Proof of proper insurance must be presented prior to departure.

g) Swiss law is applicable. Place of judgement is Lausanne, Switzerland.

Ziegler & Partner GmbH, Orzens 42, CH-1095 Lausanne, Switzerland, Tel. +41 21 791 32 80, Fax +41 21 791 39 65

Last updated December 17, 2007. (c) info@studyrussian.com