News archives 2006

November

In November we began new lessons in groups, with students who had recently become teachers of the English language at Language Link. It is good to know that are more and more of the students are from among our foreign colleagues, wanting to study Russian.
They always are interested and active, very motivated and able. Their wishes to speak Russian in Russia, and to find out more about the country and about the people gives rise to much respect.
We would like to extend to our American students from our hearts wishes for a happy Thanksgiving, wishing them the best holiday, success in all they do, and the happiest of occasions in their lives.

Brand new! Learn Ukrainian at Language Link!

Language Link is proud to offer a unique new opportunity to study Ukrainian. We are now accepting applications for both general and intensive courses. Our qualified staff follow the methodology of Lvov University, teaching "modern and living Ukrainian language". The courses will undoubtedly inspire you to visit the Ukraine, see Kiev, Lvov, Odessa and the Crimea for yourself, and practise your new language skills. Contact us for more information.

September

In September we met a new group of British university students, coming to our school to study with the RLUS programme. This time the group had more participants than ever - 17 people. All of the students are very interested in Russian art, literature, history, and are prepared to see a lot of Moscow while they are here. We think that our courses in Russian film, literature, and translation help them not only to study deeply and thoroughly the language, but to receive the best understanding of life in Russia.

August

We've moved! We are making the new office, new classrooms, and new school as livable as possible and are becoming accustomed to the new walk we have to take to the new school, which is closer to Mendelevskaya, than to Novoslobodskaya.
The students are delighted about the new school! In the old school there was such a lack of space, of light- now we have brighter rooms; there is room for casual conversation with students; and a comfortable teacher's room, as well as a room for holidays and larger meetings.
Come in for a visit - see it for yourself!

July

In July a group of students from a language school in the town of Geronia (Catalonia, Spain) came to us for an intensive two week course. The program was not just confined to exercises in the classroom. The school organized excursions, and city-walks. On the weekends the students went to Saint Petersburg which had unusually hot and sunny weather. The journey to Peterhof, the trip down the canals, and conversation with Russians at the "CCCP" club on Nevskii will leave you, we hope, with wonderful recollections of our second capital.

On the road the Spanish students, thanks to their friendliness and passable Russian, turned out to be in the centre of attention and all the men on the train discussing (in Russian!!) the rough details of the World Cup football final.

The seminar was successful and the exercises, as the students' written comments showed, proved to be very useful.

We look forward to seeing the students from Gerona again next summer!

June

The Russian Department is offering a new course in translation, "Difficulties of Translation", for students with Intermediate to Advanced level Russian who are currently living and working in Moscow. The course focuses on the problems of interpreting colloquial Russian and written translations of news, journals and newspapers.

Do you want to learn to translate complex speech with ease?

Are you interested in producing a suitable translation of a Russian news article full of sayings, proverbs and new Russian slang?

This course is highly useful for both novice translators and those who work as professional translators but have only just arrived in Russia and would like to make their language livelier and more expressive. Contact us for more information.

April

In April we were happy to welcome a group of students from Edinburgh University who decided to spend some of their Easter holidays revising at Language Link, Moscow. The five girls came to study Russian, have a good time in Moscow and savour the Russian atmosphere before their important and challenging end-of-year exams.

Their lessons covered Russian grammar and translation, and the students also benefited from lively conversation about life and contemporary issues in Russia, as well as politics and culture. The girls lived in Russian homestays, and this completely immersed them in our bustling, intensive and interesting life.

We look forward to hosting a new group of students from Edinburgh during their next vacation - you're always welcome here at LL!

March

Language Link's Russian as a Foreign Language Department takes great pleasure in welcoming our new corporate clients who have started working with us in February and March this year - Daimler Chrysler, Ferrero Russia, Orlyonok hotel complex, Bayer, Aspect and DLA MW Limited. We hope all our new students will enjoy their classes and gain valuable practical skills for living and working in Russia.

From 1st April 2006 the cost of extra weeks on the Intensive Russian programme offered at Language Link will be increasing. Please pay attention to the new prices when booking your course http://www.russian.language.ru/intensive.htm. The cost of group lessons for Foreign Language teachers will cost 245 roubles per academic hour (in a group of up to 6 people) from 1st April.

February

In February 2006 Language Link's Russian Department welcomes a new group of British university students, here for the spring semester through the RLUS scheme as part of their year abroad. Over the next few months the students are set to take part in an interesting and diverse academic Russian programme designed specially for them.

NEW! Summer courses for teachers of Russian as a Foreign Language!

If you would like to obtain a certificate of specialisation in RFL this summer, Language Link is giving you the opportunity to take part in an express course in "Principles of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language", including a practical element teaching groups of international students. Experienced teachers will be giving lectures on the following themes:

1. Principles of teaching intensive Russian on short-term courses

2. Principles of teaching grammar at all levels

3. Teaching Russian grammar - corrective courses

4. Principles of teaching international students in commercial language schools

5. In-company teaching methodology

6. Teaching individual students

7. Principles of teaching multi-subject group courses

8. The psychology of learning - cross-cultural training

9. Cultural aspects of teaching Russian as a Foreign Language

10. Teaching approaches to optimise learning

11. General and specialised textbooks. Textbooks corresponding to particular levels. Testing

You will be given the opportunity to practise teaching under the guidance of experienced teachers from MGU, RGGU and MADI with groups of international students studying at Language Link.

Course fee: 9000 roubles

Course content: 28 academic hours of lectures, plus 10-14 academic hours of compulsory practice teaching (leading to the award of a certificate)

Course start dates: 5 and 26 June, 10 and 31 July, 7 and 21 August 2006

Language Link is also able to provide assistance in arranging visa invitations, homestay accommodation and transfers.

January

Happy New Year! Language Link wishes you all the best for 2006, and we hope you'll be inspired by the new programmes on offer this year.

In January 2006 the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language is pleased to announce a special offer for students from Spain and Portugal wishing to study Russian with Language Link. You will receive a 7% discount on group and individual tuition irrespective of the programme. Now recruiting for groups of all levels.

NEW! Plan your summer with Language Link now!

Language Link invites students from Europe, USA and Canada to join in with our "Summer 2006" programme for American universities. The programme lasts 4 weeks (classes start on 1st June and 3rd July 2006) and is intended for students with any level of Russian, from beginner to advanced. "Summer 2006" offers an intensive course of conversational Russian with elements of phonetics and grammar (50-80 academic hours), plus:

1. a familiarisation course, "Moscow in the context of Russian culture", including visits to Moscow's museums, cathedrals, places of historical interest, architectural monuments, theatres, and also walking tours of old Moscow's streets.

2. four lectures in English (or an alternative European language) on modern Russian writers, philosophers and economists.

3. a visit to St Petersburg accompanied by one of our teachers.

Language Link can provide visa support, homestay accommodation (1 or 2 people per room, the option of B&B or half board), transfers from and to the airport or train station, and a monthly metro pass.

News archives 2005