How to learn Russian slang fast? Ask Giulia from Italy!

"Hello! I'm Giulia. I'm a volunteer in Russia"

As you probably know every year hundreds choose Russia to spend a semester during the gap year. But Giulia from Rome came to Petrozavodsk by EVS program. Here in Karelia she attends Russian classes (Giulia's Russian level is literally close to a native speaker already!) and works as a volunteer at the International language Camp for children. How is this like to volunteer in Russia? 

READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW with Giulia and think about being a part of the world volunteering community! Russia is one of the best destinations for you to explore and self-realize. 

Students from Italy come to learn Russian in Petrozavodsk all the year round

From now on the University of Bologna (Forlì Campus) is the place each Russian volunteer knows about. The reason for that is because recently the teachers of Enjoy Russian language school had been teaching Russian to 8 great students from this University. Notwithstanding their language proficiency, each student made a huge step in learning Russian. Read what guys think about Russian hosts, study process and the city itself!

A trip to Russia is always a good idea!

Enjoy Russian Students from Italy and Great Britain, a trip to Kizhi

We do love when students share the experience about Enjoy Russian school cultural program. This summer more than 70 students have visited famous Kizhi island, an open-air museum which is located in Karelia. 

Its landscape makes you feel at your granny’s cozy country house where you can walk on the grass, stroke a horse and get on the swing. The Museum has been researching, preserving and popularizing culture of the native peoples of Karelia for more than 40 years. The gem of this collection is the 22 domed Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior.

Almost every testimonial touches upon Kizhi excursion. 

"Yesterday we went to Kizhi Island, one of the most interesting place near Petrozavodsk city. ☀️ beautiful nature and amazing people!" says Isabella Martina from Italy.

"The cultural program was also beautiful. We went to Kizhi Island, with whom I feel in love at first sight, and we learnt how to cook typical Karelian kalitki", says Clara. 

Can you imagine how beautiful the island could be in winter? Come to Russia to find out!

Winter trip to the most famous Russian open-air museum

amazing facts about Russia

We bet you know this! 

Some stereotypes about Russia are not even close to reality! Make sure you know Russia better than Google:)  Here is the presentation that hopefully will make you want to come to learn Russian in Karelia! See you soon in Petrozavodsk!

Russian celebrities I'd like to meet

If you were happen to travel in Russia, who would you like to meet? May be the President or a famous actor, a scientist or ballet dancer? In summer 2018 shcolarship contest  Enjoy Russian school asked the candidates to write an essay about any famous Russians from the past to present. We were very surprised by both the number of participants and people they were describing. The winner  for instance told about the Romanovs and interview she would hold with Anastasia Romanova. Peter the Great, journalist Vladimir Pozner, skier Maria Komissarova and other famous people also turned out to be of high  interest for Russian language learners. Here is the essay of Luis from Colombia.

Luis about famous Russian singers and bands

When I travel in Russia I would like to meet Nargiz Zakirova. She is an outstanding singer, one of my favorites. When I started to listen music in Russian, she was one of the first singers that I listened to. Her life has impressed. I would to meet her in a café in St. Pétersburg, talking about a lot of things, asking her about what does she feel when she sings and projects does she have for the future. And, of course, taking a selfie with her.
And talking about musician, I would also to meet the members of Amatory, Vismut, СЛОТ, Storm Inside, 7000$ and Animal ДжаZ. I also like their music very much. In the case of these artist, I would like to meet them all in a metalcore festival in Moscow. Knowing that summer is a god time for that kind of concert and festival, that would very a very awesome experience.
And if I had a time machine to go back in the time and meeting someone, that would be the count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (also known as Leo Tolstoy), one of the very best and greatest writers of all time. I know that for him that would be a strange experience meeting someone form the future but I'd try to not spoil anyting, but telling him how much I admire his work and letting him know that despite how hard were (well, would be at that time) his last years, his work will be hugely appreciated. I truly wish to have the opportunity to meet such a great writer like him.

Now it is time to create your own list! And come to Russia to learn the language:) Who knows maybe you’ll make your dream come true! Choose a course

DIDN’T EXPECT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A RUSSIAN GIRL

A student from Germany came to Petrozavodsk to learn Russian and found the love of a lifetime

Many things happened at Enjoy Russian school since 2003. All the students come here with the main aim – to start speaking Russian and try to live like a Russian for a while. But sometimes incredible things may take place and students find not only good Russian friends or meet a perfect host family. They find love of a lifetime. That is what happened with Andreas from Germany in 2014. Here is a story of his wife, amazing Irina who moved from Russian city of Petrozavodsk (where Enjoy Russian school is situated) to Germany.

Russian love story: he chose Petrozavodsk out of almost 1000 Russian cities

“Hello, everyone and happy 15 birthday, dear “Enjoy Russian”! You have a very special place in my heart and here is the reason why…  
At Uni I’ve studied international relations and in september 2014 we had practice weeks during which i’ve worked at a language school called… “Enjoy Russian”:) One day our lovely boss asked if somebody could dedicate couple of hours and do a small city tour for russian language students. Introverted part of me hesitated for a second, but rational one was saying: “It can be fun, why not?!”. And indeed it was:) 

Shall I say that among those students was a lovely man who stole my heart?) At such moments you can’t help but believe in fate… Exactly that autumn he decided to go to Russia, he chose Petrozavodsk out of almost 1000 Russian cities, he chose the school where i’ve happen to have my internship… right time, right place, what a chance?:)

Since then my life has drastically changed: I graduated from University, married my best friend, moved countries to be with him and now we are growing our little precious baby!”

We are always extremely happy to know something about our students life, especially when they share that nice memories and such a great news! Wish you guys all the best and hope that your daughter will come to learn Russian in Petrozavodsk one day too!

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Choose a course and join us! And who knows what can happen to you in Russia!

KARELIAN SUMMER THROUGH THE EYES OF A PHOTOGRAPHER

Life in Petrozavodsk is like this: half an hour and you talk to nature

According to the statistics, there are more than 700 000 of photographers in Russia. You can imagine how hard it is to find your niche and come up with your own style. The city of Petrozavodsk might be proud of numerous of talented people and Igor Podgorny is definitely one of them. Once you saw the pictures of a famous Karelian photographer it seems no one could portray Russian nature with Karelian flavor better. Known as an outstanding Russian blogger and photographer Igor finds his inspiration in Karelian landscapes, forest spirits and water rhythms.

One of the best 5 Russian photographers prefers Petrozavodsk to Moscow

We have to admit Karelia was that lucky not from the very beginning. Igor moved to Petrozavodsk from Moscow only five years ago. But why does the ambitious young man with a spark of potential give up such a «fertile ground» for self realization? Igor was asked this question plenty of times and every time answers the same:

Moscow is not that comfortable city, long distances and traffic jams. Of course there are better career opportunities but here in Petrozavodsk my children can go to school by themselves and the best thing here is that it takes you nothing to go to a forest with kids, drink tea with them on the shore of Onego and get back home before it gets dark. People in Moscow are deprived of such a pleasure.

A beauty of Karelia helps me a lot!

Igor believes Karelia and Petrozavodsk are very photogenic and could serve a magical source of inspiration. We should take pictures of that unique land to be able to keep it through generations. To that purpose a life of photographer never reminds groundhog day: get up at 5am  to  catch the break of dawn today and tomorrow stay up all night to shoot the Northern lights – that happens quite often. Igor had been working at Greenpeace Russia and believes that a really good photo may resolve the most complicated and contradictive issue.