Frequently asked questions

If you have decided to learn Russian in Russia, you do not need to know the language: all the programs for complete beginners at our school are taught in English.

Russian is widely considered to be one of the hardest languages to learn. In fact, Russian is not much more difficult than any other European language. Cyrillic is not as difficult as, for example, Chinese or Arabic.

Compared to Moscow and most Western capitals, St Petersburg offers a more affordable cost of living, although prices have increased in recent years. A single person’s monthly expenses, excluding rent, are typically around $550–700 (50,000–65,000 RUB). One-bedroom apartments cost approximately $250–450 (25,000–42,000 RUB) in suburban districts and $350–700 (30,000–65,000 RUB) in the city center. Overall, living costs in St Petersburg are about 15–20% lower than in Moscow and 40–50% lower than in New York.

Yes, upon completion of the course, we will present you with a certificate of completion indicating the language level you have achieved.

We are offering courses in small groups, usually there are up to 4 students in a group.

The course starts every Monday! Classes typically begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. So, you’ll have 20 group lessons a week!

Of course, if you decide that you’d like to add more classes to your current course and continue studying, you can let the managers know in advance and they’ll advise you on the next steps. You can book any number of additional lessons/weeks.

In addition to group lessons, you can book one-to-one sessions to consolidate what you’ve already learnt or to explore something new! Since the timetable is flexible, you can arrange your schedule according to the group schedule.

The schedule is discussed individually with each student. The lessons can be held during our working hours: 10 am — 8 pm. We recommend scheduling at least twice a week for steady progress.

Usually, our students stay with the same teacher during the whole course. However, if there is a need to change a teacher for some reason (schedule changed, the style of teaching is not suited, etc.), you can change a teacher with the help of our manager.

We kindly ask that you let the school or your instructor know at least 6 hours in advance if you’re unable to attend your lesson. If we receive notice of cancellation less than six hours before the start of the lesson, the 45-minute class will be considered conducted and will not be reimbursed.

It is a combination of indoor and outdoor one-to-one lessons. You study basic grammar and vocabulary at school, and then practice it right away in the real environment: restaurants, museums, parks, shops, etc., depending on your preferences. We recommend signing up for a short-term only not to get overwhelmed 🙂

Yes, you can combine your studies with work, as the one-to-one course offers a flexible schedule and you can tailor the classes to fit your personal schedule; we discuss this with students in advance!

Most foreigners require a visa, but a visa-free regime or temporary agreements are in place for a number of countries (for example, for citizens of the CIS or China for stays of up to 30 days). You can contact our managers via email for more details.

It depends on your citizenship. We issue a student visa invitation letter in most cases. Contact us for more info about it. After you have an invitation letter, you can get a visa at any closest Russian consulate.

The cheapest accommodation is a hostel — $13 (1000 rub) per night, but if you’re staying for a longer period it is much cheaper to rent a flat. The lowest price of a one-room apartment close to our school is around $540 (40,000 rub) per month.

The best option to stay in St Petersburg is a Host Family. The main reason is more language practice after your classes — home is the best place to talk! Moreover, all hosts are locals and they know a lot about the city, so you will get a deeper immersion into Russian culture.

First and foremost, tourists usually visit the historic city center: Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square, the Hermitage, and strolls along the rivers and canals. We also recommend seeing the bridges open, visiting St. Isaac’s Cathedral and Peterhof—these are the main symbols of St. Petersburg and the best way to experience the city’s atmosphere.

In major cities, many young people and service industry workers speak English at a basic or intermediate level. However, in regional areas and among the older generation, knowledge of English is much less common, so it’s helpful to have an translator or to speak Russian.

Before your trip, we recommend installing Yandex Go (for taxis and public transportation), Yandex Maps (for navigation and offline maps), and Yandex Translate (for communication), as these are the main services used within the country. You may also need a banking app and local delivery services, since there may be restrictions on foreign services.

Foreign nationals can apply for a Russian bank card at a bank branch; this usually requires a passport, immigration documents, and a Russian phone number. The application process may vary depending on the bank, and if necessary, our school can assist you with preparing the documents and guiding you through every step of the process.

The average temperature during winter months in St. Petersburg is -5 to -10 degrees Celsius. But it’s humid here, so pack some nice sweaters and a scarf!

Oh, but we do! It’s just we don’t waste our smiles 🙂