FROM PETER THE GREAT TO THE MODERN DAYS

Festival of traditional shipbuilding and navigation “Kizhskaya regata”

What is the first thing each student coming to learn Russian in Petrozavodsk hears? Right! The fact that the capital city of Karelia was founded by Peter the Great. In 1703 the Emperor ordered to construct the arms factory on Lososinka river and later on it served as an important fortification against the Swedes. Peter’s “sea passion” and  geographical position of Karelia have destined its future as closely bounded to naval expeditions and marine life. Since 18 century Karelian people have been honoring the gifts mother-nature brought and organized numerous holidays and festivals and the upcoming great festival is going to take place in July and August 2018.

The place for which Karelia is known by the whole world

Every summer about 170 000 tourists come to Karelia to visit the unique place included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Somewhere in the Lake Onego famous Kizhi Pogost is situated. The impressive construction includes 2 wooden churches and a bell-tower that were built without a single nail in 17 century.  According to the legend, the builder threw into the lake the axe he was constructing the church with and said that nowhere in the world would man find something alike. Really and truly no one could reproduce the phenomenal buildings.

Spice up your Russian summer – greatest naval Festival in July and August

If you are currently choosing the right time to visit Karelian cultural and historical gem  think about coming to Russia in summer. More than 30 crews from Russia, Sweeden, Finland and Norway are to take part in annual traditional shipbuilding and navigation “Kizhskaya regata” from 30th of July to 5 of August. Some say the event is even more bright than famous Historical Regatta in Venice.  It is the first Russian competition in which sportsmen should use traditional wooden boats. Kids and adults come to the festival in order to:

• Try themselves in all sorts of marine professions from boat builders to the keepers of Kizhi museums;
• To choose the best boat constructed by Russian and foreign artists and learn more about Onego shipping traditions;
• To taste famous Karelian fish soup;
• To make their own wooden souvenirs, listen to folk bands and get driven away by locals’ performances.
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Dear Russian language learners! Right now we're gathering a team of the most talkative students of Russian!

If your language level is A1+ (elementary), A2+ (basic) or B1 (1st certificate), join our students for a group Russian course in Russia starting from October, 30! Participate for 2-4 weeks to communicate in Russian all day long and improve your speaking skills in a fast and easy way!

APPLY: http://enjoyrussian.com/apply-standart/
Ask a question: info@enjoyrussian.com

Here are some photos of November course in 2016 - that was fun, wasn't it?

5 FACTS PROVING RUSSIAN WINTER IS FOR FEARLESS!

Have reached the lowest point of Mariana Trench? Climbed Everest and took a trip inside in the crater of Icelandic volcano? Unless you’ve been to Russia, It doesn’t really count!After reading this you will probably want to experience Russian winter!

Join “Enjoy Russian” language school and challenge yourself!  

Зиму мы перезимовали, осталось перезимовать весну –  We’ve overwintered  the winter, now we have to overwinter the spring!

1. The weather is cruel. Yes, Russian weather always holds the top positions. The Russian village Oimyakon is known as the Cold Pole of the Earthwhere the temperature might hit -71C! And the locals still live their own lives without any problems. As for Karelia, we can’t be proud of that low temperature but still be ready to 25 degrees below. By the way Russians believe that if people fall in love in wintertime that kind of relations is the strongest and is going to last forever. Because usually people put so many layers of clothes that it’s really hard to see a person behind, not to mention falling in love.
2. Ice swimming is pretty popular. Despite the cruelty of Russian winter people in Russia tend to swim a lot! And we talk about ice swimming of course, not just the swimming pool. On January 19 Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate religious holiday when they can wash away the sins by bathing into the ice water. According to the statistics approximately 5 000 of Petrozavodsk citizens swim in 20 specially equipped spots all over the city.  Even little kids are long to be a part of this Russian Walrus club.
3. 90C in Banya. Some people do not wait for a certain date to enjoy ice cold water. They swim on regular bases after each Banya session. The average temperature may exceed 90C. Sometimes they even spend the whole day in Banya massaging themselves with bunches of dried branches and leaves from bearch or oak, drinking green tea and jumping into the snow.  Banya is believed to be a good option for getting rid of toxins and gaining energy.
4. Ice fishing is not for everyone. What could be more romantic than sitting for 5-6 hours in a row in the freezing cold? Russian fishermen are often called the craziest people in the world. To become a professional in all types of fishing techniques takes time and patience. Some say it’s rather a lifestyle than just a hobby.
5. Holiday season is pretty long. Only the strongest can keep celebrating on and on for 9 days:) The New Years’ Eve and then Christmas. And some family gathering in between. From the Russians point of view the festive season is the good option to prepare yourself to the year of hard work and to make a list of New Year resolutions.

And know you should answer a simple question: are you ready for this? If yes, then come to Enjoy Russian language school in February to take our 4-week course and present yourself unique and priceless memories!

 

Last weekends to apply for the next group Russian course in Russia starting from October, 16! 

Hurry up! There are not so many places left! 
Levels: A1 (elementary), A2+ (basic) 
Duration: from 2 to 6 weeks 
Cost: 320 euro for 2-week tuition (40 lessons) + 150 euro for 2-week Russian homestay with breakfast 

APPLY: http://enjoyrussian.com/apply-standart/ 
Ask a question: info@enjoyrussian.com 

Reach fast progress in Russian in a short time! 

Distance is nothing if you want to learn Russian in Russia.

Each year students from distant countries prove that. They take long trips to participate in Full Russian Language Immersion Programs and learn Russian fast.

8824 km to achieve desired goal

Exactly that distance should be covered if you live in Singapore and want to study Russian in Petrozavodsk. Last year we were happy to host students from this country for the first time.

Tong and Kay Lin

Tong and Kay Lin have been studying in our school for 2 weeks. They tried to do as much as they can. They even visited Saint Petersburg and Velikiy Novgorod while studying in Petrozavodsk. But the main result of their staying in our city is Russian language progress:

«I improved my knowledge in the six grammatical cases and also picked up useful everyday phrases from the program», – Kay Lin

«I improve a lot in speaking and listening and I hope to come for 3 months study in summer period», – Tong.

with Russian volunteer

Experience Russian winter

Welcome tea for foreign students

Jackie

In 2017 another student from Singapore has been studying in the school for 10 weeks. When Jackie came she couldn’t say a word in Russian. By the end of the program she could write a small text and tell about her life in Petrozavodsk.

Get to know Russian culture

Russian tea

Debra

The most admirable student for us is Debra. She has come to Petrozavodsk to study Russian, but she is going to stay here less than for one week. She explains that she doesn’t have time to stay longer, but she really wants to study Russian. Just after her arrival to Petrozavodsk she came to the school and had 2 individual Russian classes.

As you see distance is nothing for those who really want to know Russian! And would you like to study this language? Choose any course and come to Petrozavodsk!

To speak Russian is your cherished dream, isn’t it? 
Coming winter you will make your dream come true with “EnjoyRussian” Language School!

You will be able to study and broaden various vocabulary necessary for real life situations and practice it every day:

- you will learn neutral vocabulary on our Intensive classes
- you will acquire Russian colloquial vocabulary while living in a Russian host family
- you will get an idea of Russian slang while communicating with Russian volunteers.

 Besides you’ll find out what is Russian way of life, taste delicious Russian food, find new friends, experience winter cultural activities and have a good time in Petrozavodsk!

Our friendly team will support you with each step!

Dates of the course: February 5 – March 2.
Apply before October 01 and get 10% discount for tuition fee!

  https://enjoyrussian.com/courses/standard/

10 REASONS TO COME TO PETROZAVODSK IN WINTER

What is the Russian language and Russian winter you will know in Petrozavodsk.

Northern part of Russia is an amazing region with unique atmosphere and sights. Visiting northern cities allows you to take part in very special activities you won’t find in other places. And Northern nature will dazzle you with its unique beauty even in winter.

Let’s find out why you should come to study Russian in Petrozavodsk this winter?

1. To enjoy snowy and frosty Russian winter. In Petrozavodsk you may easily take a walk through a forest to relax and you don’t even have to leave the city.

2. To relax in Russian banya and know what Russian proverb means: “В бане помылся – заново родился” (Washing up in the banya is like being born again). Banya is one of the most favourite Russian experience.

3. To bathe in an ice-hole and improve immunity.

4. To make a trip to Winter Kizhi. Open Air Museum Kizhi is “must see” place all year round.

5. To visit Hasky Dog farm and have dog-sleigh ride. Exciting active leisure and positive emotions.

6. To play outdoor winter games, to go skating and skiing.

7. To visit the International Winter festival of ice and snow sculptures “Hyperborea”. So many talented masters from Russia, Belarus, Finland etc. come to Petrozavodsk and share their art and ideas.

8. To celebrate Russian Maslenitsa and eat as many blinis as you can. The whole week you can try blinis with various fillings and have fun.

9. To participate in new cultutral activities – cooking and dancing class.

10. To take the best Russian language course starting from February 5 and make good progress in Russian!

There are many volunteers of Russian Language School in Petrozavodsk of all ages.

But all of them have different background, family, education, hobbies.

Let us present you the most active volunteers of June – Mane and Lilit Manutsyan. They are sisters but very bright and individual.

For example, Mane likes German language while Lilit adores French language.  Both of them speak English language and Mane practises Italian as well. But at home they speak Armenian language because their parents are from Armenia.

Mane  likes cinema, journalism, active life-style and travelling while Lilit likes basketball, France, hats and music.

Both of them are students of Petrozavodsk State University, future philologists.

During the June, Mane and Lilit became friends for more than 5 students. They helped them to orient in the city, use their guidebooks, activate sim-card, go to bank and so on. AlsoMane became an interpreter in lecture about Karelia for 10 students.

As a present for their active participation in Russian Language School life, Mane and Lilit gained free tickets in bowling club.

Do you want to join our volunteers and practise Russian language?

Welcome Karelia!

http://enjoyrussian.com/2-5-languages-volunteer/

Изучать, учить, учиться – what’s the difference?

Almost every student asks me this question. And this is what I tell him/her:

ИЗУЧАТЬ means “to study” (in depth), to research. It is used when we say what we study at university: Я изучаю математику в университете. It means that you study maths hard, you read many books about maths, you write essays and thesises.

УЧИТЬ is “to learn” (memorise). You can learn грамматику, новые слова, стихи and so on. So you read it, look at it, practise it many times in order to memorise it.

УЧИТЬСЯ means “to learn” or “to study”. The difference with the previous two is that you can not use a direct object in Accusative case after verb “учиться”. The biggest mistake is “Я учусь русский язык“! We use this verb to answer the question “Where do you study?”: Я учусь в университете. Or “What are you doing right now?”: Я учусь.

So if you learn or study and you just want to say what you’re doing, about this action itself without saying specifically what exactly you learn, use УЧИТЬСЯ. If you study something in depth, research the subject, use ИЗУЧАТЬ + direct object in Accusative (математику, физику, химию). If you want to memorise a rule or a poem or want to say that you learn Russian (but not that serious as they do at universities), use УЧИТЬ.

Any questions?

- See more at: http://enjoyrussian.com/%d0%b8%d0%b7%d1%83%d1%87%d0%b0%d1%82%d1%8c/#sthash.tx0RF2dK.dpuf

This June a big group of Swiss students came to study in the Russian language school “Enjoy Russian”. Though I’ve already participated in several similar camps, it was my first experience as a volunteer of the “Initiative Centre”. Anyway it has absolutely left to my expectations.

All the students as well as the other volunteers were very friendly and easy-going. It turned out that we have much in common with the guys, so we simply became friends. As a volunteer I tried to help my new friends to learn Russian language and culture: we’ve watched funny Russian cartoons, went to the cinema, attended different museums, had long walks around the city, went to the picnic to the lake, where we played folk Russian games, swam or just lay in the sun, in other words we had an awesome time together. Moreover we organized a “Food Party”, which, in my opinion, turned out to be great. We represented each other different tasty things, we’d cooked ourselves, spoke a lot and even sang Russian karaoke!

I would like to say “thanks” to the guys, because they not only learned Russian here, but also helped me with my German, which was very kind of them! So I hope that the guys liked the time spent together here in Petrozavodsk as much as I did!

Ksysha, 19 years old, future foreign language teacher

Would you like to know more about  Volunteers' Support in our school? Read here http://enjoyrussian.com/about-us/volunteers/

Petrozavodsk is the capital of the Republic of Karelia. It is located in the north-west of Russia, on the banks of Lake Onega, some 400 km away from Saint-Petersburg and 1,100 km away from Moscow and 700 km away from Helsinki.  Local time is Moscow.

The foundation of Petrozavodsk is connected with the name of the emperor Peter The Great. In 1703, the same year a new Russian capital Saint-Petersburg was built, on the empty shores of Lososinka river Petrovsky Plant was founded.

Modern Petrozavodsk is a multifaceted and diverse city. It is interesting for its architecture and art, international festivals and sporting events, active, cultural and educational programs. The tourism industry in the city is developing dynamically. There are a lot of new cafes and restaurants, hotels and entertainment centers offering a modern service.

Nowadays in Petrozavodsk on the area of 113 sq. km. lives one third of the population of Karelia (about 261,987  people). The city gives approximately a half of the national income of the republic. That is provided mainly with the enterprises of machine-building, power, transport, food and light industries. There are two universities, a conservatory, 16 colleges, 49 schools, lyceums and gymnasiums (including one national gymnasium) in Petrozavodsk. Karelian Scientific Center, 5 theatres, a philharmonic society, National Library and National Archival Depository, museums and art galleries are working in the city as well.

Petrozavodsk is home to multiple confessions, including Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish, Lutheran, Protestant, and other religious communities and establishments.

Near the City

Kizhi Island, located 68 km away from the city, is a must-see once you find yourself in Petrozavodsk. The famous Kizhi church ensemble can be found here, a real masterpiece of wooden architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries, which is protected by UNESCO. All parts of this ensemble reflect the mastery and skill of ancient Russian wood architects. The central point of this ensemble is Preobrazhenskaya Church, constructed with an axe without a single nail.

Karelia, the “region of lakes”, thrills with the beauty of its nature. We strongly recommend visiting lakes Ladoga and Onega, Kivach Waterfall, Ruskeala Mountain Park, the Valaam Islands, first Russian resort “Marcial Waters”, Petroglyphs of the Onego lake and White sea.

Petrozavodsk is about 700 km away from Helsinki.

Would you like to know more about Petrozavodsk? Read here http://enjoyrussian.com/category/ptz/

Our students explore the city! Andre, Eleanor and Russian volunteers have visited our local Drama Theatre "Tvorcheskaya Masterskaya"! 

Apply http://enjoyrussian.com/3719/
Ask coordinator if you have questions info@enjoyrussian.com