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Discover the Best Russian Classes Near Me
Russian is a global language spoken by about 260 million people worldwide. The vast majority of native speakers reside in Asia, Europe and North America, making it the seventh most spoken language by number of native speakers. A member of the East Slavic language subgroup, modern Russian evolved from Old East Slavic, a general amalgam of tribes that resided in the regions of modern day Ukraine and Russia from the 9th to the 13th centuries CE.
One of the key differences between Russian and other Western languages is its alphabet, which is written using Cyrillic, as opposed to Latin, characters. The Russian language is terrifically important in the steady functioning of international business communications encompassing logistics, finance, technology, biomedical research, computer science, and social media. Russian continues to command attention on the global stage for political reasons as well.
Why You Should Learn Russian
There are many benefits of learning a new language are many and they show up in nearly every area of day to day life. Becoming multilingual is less like learning another subject and more like gaining a new set of tools to tackle a whole range of problems or to generate new ideas and possibilities. Studying a new language has been shown to reduce stress, sharpen critical thinking, and foster creativity. As daily life becomes increasingly fast-paced, it's important to find balance in hobbies or other creative pursuits. Learning Russian is an excellent way to pass the time while having a little fun, and the upshot is that even during your free time you can be productive.
Language naturally means community, and learning Russian will help you to plug into a global network of other language learners and those who appreciate Russian culture. Many U.S. cities are home to clubs, groups, and organizations that put on events where you can meet other Russian speakers and heighten your language proficiency. Who knows, your new connections might even lead to a new job. People with skill in more than one language have a much greater chance of landing a job in certain fields such as international business, finance, FinTech, and translation.
Language is all about creating connections and allowing for the free exchange of information. As a Russian language learner, you will not only appreciate that classic Russian film or novel all the more, but your ability to engage with others with similar interests will grow exponentially. Grow your social and professional circles by learning Russian and who knows what else in the process.
5 Ways to Learn Russian
Deciding to learn a new language, not to mention a new alphabet, is a big step forward and one that people are taking every day. You could learn Russian on your own but the process will be easier, quicker, and probably more fun with the help of an experienced instructor who is there to provide helpful feedback.
- Take an in-person class with a knowledgeable instructor. There's nothing like receiving guided instruction from someone who speaks Russian fluently and who you can engage with in conversation.
- Enroll in a live online class where you can progress with a group of likeminded learners. An experienced instructor will guide you every step of the way toward language proficiency, answering questions and offering helpful feedback.
- Find the perfect online video or tutorial for you and progress at your own pace. If you are self-motivated and want to chart your own course to learn Russian, this is a terrific option. Many free Russian language video tutorials are available online.
- Grab a book, workbook, audiobook, software at your local library or bookstore. While you won't get the benefits of studying in the company of other Russian language learners, by making your way through a workbook or audiobook you can take as much time as you need on each lesson and checking out books or software is free.
- Numerous cultural and community centers and organizations exist throughout the country where you can meet Russian speakers and learn the language. For example, the Russian American Cultural Center in Manhattan, NYC is a wonderful place to learn more about Russian culture and language.
In-Person Russian Classes
Russian courses are only growing in popularity, so all across the country they're being offered on a regular basis. If you have an interest in languages, joining a community of peers is a great way to learn, and in-person courses have the added benefit of immediate relevant feedback from an experienced instructor. Check out some of the course offerings below and start your exploration of the Russian language.
Language is one of the many ways in which we interact with the world and other people, so learning Russian will open up a whole new realm of possibility and experience. It's not just in conversation or reading that you can use your new language proficiency. Russian film, television, literature, media, and performing arts are deep and enriching traditions. Find a favorite Russian work of art and explore the language through it.
Private Russian Lessons at ABC Languages in Downtown Manhattan, NYC teaches you the basics of Russian grammar, spelling, and phrasing. Participants will learn common phrases and beginning conversation skills. This course is open to all experience levels and anyone 18 and older. The attentive instructors at ABC Languages will tailor a curriculum to suit your specific needs and goals. Multiple packages of varying lengths are available at 12,24, or 48 hours of coursework. All classes are held in-person with other engaging language learners as well as a professional Russian instructor. Meet other like minded students and converse with them in Russian. All students are asked to purchase a textbook for this course.
Another entry-level course from ABC Languages is Russian—Total Beginner, held at ABC Languages in Downtown Manhattan, NYC. Classes average about nine people per classroom, ages 16 and older. No matter how much or how little experience you have in Russian, you're welcome to begin today. This six-week beginning Russian language course is designed to introduce the basics of Russian conversation skills and vocabulary, including an introduction to the Cyrillic alphabet. ABC Instructors will guide you toward language confidence through a blend of live conversation and written work. For a $250 fee you receive six weeks of instruction, and once you've completed Level 1, you are welcome to move on to a Level 2 class. Classes progress until students have reached their learning goals.
Russian Intermediate 2 is a course presented by ABC Languages that teaches a curriculum for language learners who already have a firm grasp of verb tenses but would like to learn more about imperfective and perfective verbs, prefixed verbs of motion, and the subjunctive mood. Taught at the ABC Languages offices in Downtown Manhattan in NYC, the curriculum is a hybrid of more traditional lessons focused on grammar and sentence structure with a situational approach where students interact with one another to promote practical language use. Conversation is the primary focus of this group class. A range of course packages are available, beginning at the 4-week package priced at $175. You can opt for 6,8, and 12-week packages as well.
NY Cake Academy presents Russian Tips Cupcakes, a fun and interactive baking class where participants learn Russian Tip techniques to pipe stunning and delicious cupcakes. The course is open to all experience levels and bakers aged 12 and older. On average, classes are made up of 12 participants, and they last for two hours. The NY Cake Academy in New York City's Flatiron District is known for its exciting and engaging cake-making and cake decorating classes.
Russian—Total Beginner by ABC Languages SF in San Francisco's Financial District teaches you valuable Russian language skills from the very first lesson. ABC instructors guide students in the basics of conversation, grammar, and phonics so that every participant has a solid foundation for learning and absorbing Russian. No experience is necessary and you have the option of taking additional classes after the course has concluded. Materials for the course are not included and typically cost $10 to $45. The course consists of eight, 90-minute lessons.
Clash of the Titans: Russo-German War 1941-1945 presented by The Newberry in Chicago's Downtown Loop district is a four-week history course on various conflicts between the Soviet and German armies during World War II. The class is open to participants of all experience levels aged 18 and up, and class sizes are usually around 14. Expand your knowledge of Russian history and culture through the lectures of Edward E. Gordon, a professor of history with 20 years of teaching experience. The Newberry Library is an independent research library whose special collections encompass a wide variety of topics and fields.
Washington Photo Safari presents Hillwood Museum and Gardens, a two-hour interactive photography class in which you will receive instruction on low-light shooting indoors, garden and estate photography, and use of a macro lens. The Hillwood Museum is known for its stunning collection of Faberge eggs and other Russian artifacts, so participants are likely to learn much about Russian art and culture. Interested parties are expected to bring their own camera, lens, memory cards, and other photography accessories. This indoor-outdoor class takes place in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Washington D.C.
Virtual Russian Classes
There's nothing like immersion in a community of like minded learners, and that's exactly what you get with in-person classes. It's also encouraging and efficient to receive attention and feedback from an experienced instructor in a face-to-face setting. Still, in-person classes are not for everyone, and there are many benefits to be had from online classes only.
The virtual setting of an online class means that you can access course content from just about anywhere, including the comfort of your own home. This means no commute, which translates to more time for you to commit to your own interests and hobbies. Generally speaking, there are more online courses available than in-person courses, so the variety of different courses and subjects is greater.
All you need for an online course is a smart device or computer and a reliable internet connection. This may make accessibility a bit more difficult for some, and usually participants are expected to supply their own materials for a given course. The great thing about learning a language is that generally all you need to get started is a book or workbook, a writing surface, and a writing utensil. Compared to many other courses, the materials required are fairly inexpensive.
Russian—Level 1 is a course presented by Fluent City that teaches beginners the basics of conversational Russian. Participants will receive a curriculum focused on how to decline nouns in nominative and prepositional cases, conjugation of verbs in the present tense, noun and adjective case, number and gender agreement, demonstrative and possessive pronouns in the nominative case, and spelling rules. At the course's end, learners will be able to introduce themselves to native speakers, talk about their family, and what activities they like to do in their free time.
Online Private Russian Lessons from ABC Languages is open to all experience levels and ages 16 and up. Each participant receives a curriculum tailored to their language needs and goals. Choose from one-on-one lessons, or you can learn in a group with family or friends. Individual lessons start at $50 and are delivered through Microsoft Teams. Instructors are available seven days a week, so you always are supported with feedback from a knowledgeable team of language experts.
Russian—Total Beginner is another course from ABC Languages in which online classes of about six participants learn basic Russian conversational skills and an introduction to Cyrillic. Courses take place once a week for 90 minutes. Each class session is interactive and based around particular situations where students will use conversational Russian. Once students complete Level 1, they have the option of progressing to Level 2 and beyond. The course is overall six weeks long at a cost of $250.
Private Group Russian Classes
Wherever you are, you can bring fun, multimodal team building classes to your private group or organization. Russian is one of the primary global business languages, so learning it even at the basic conversational level could add dimension and a new skill set to your team. Coursehorse has live online Russian classes for private groups available now, and new classes are being added all the time.
In-person or virtual group Russian classes are a unique and engaging way for you and your team to build rapport, deepen communication, and have a little fun. A huge benefit of language courses is that little to no materials are required to begin because it's conversation-based and an experienced instructor guides you through all the steps
Even if no Russian classes are publicly available now, Coursehorse can provide one for a group. The process for requesting a group course is simple and Coursehorse representatives are quick to respond. All you have to do is go to the Coursehorse website, click the Contact Us button, and fill out the form. Coursehorse will tailor a course to your group's specific needs and goals or you can check out the currently available options.
Booking a private group class with Coursehorse is a breeze. There are no booking fees, and confirmation is always provided in 24 hours or less. If you don't know the exact size of your group, or if you expect it will change, Coursehorse allows you to change your group size even after you've booked.
Sometimes the setup and delivery of online group courses can be frustrating due to the proliferation of differing digital platforms and delivery methods. Coursehorse simplifies things by supporting multiple platforms. Most of their online courses are delivered through Zoom, but Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx are supported as well.
What Will I Need to Learn Russian?
Depending on the course, some supplies may be necessary to learn a new language, but these will be minimal. Often all you need to start learning Russian is a computer or smart device and a reliable internet connection. If the class is in-person, then you may need to bring a notebook and a pen or pencil to supplement your textbook or workbook, but many classes provide the necessary materials for you.
The most important thing to bring to any new Russian class is an open mind and a willingness to learn. Also, it is usually greatly beneficial to be willing to speak up in class and to engage with your classroom peers.
Is It Difficult to Learn Russian?
Russian uses a different alphabet and script than English and many other Western languages, making it a particularly difficult, but fascinating, language to learn for many native English speakers. Still, it is growing in popularity and use every year which means that classes are readily available to help you learn and join a community of like minded learners.
Learning any new language is a challenge, but this is what makes the journey all the more rewarding. Ultimately, how you use and express yourself in Russian is up to you, meaning that it is a highly creative and powerful skill to gain.
