Effective Russian language courses in Petrozavodsk!

Looking for the effective summer courses? Do you want to start speaking Russian fluently in 4 weeks? Interested in full Russian language immersion?

Russian language school "Enjoy Russia" (Petrozavodsk, Russia) present you Summer Courses 2015. Explore new opportunities, make with Russian volunteers, live with Russian family and learn the language! You can choose the way of learning that is most suitable for you – group or individual lessons. Living in Russian host-family will give you opportunity to practice speaking all day long. And we offer you a various exciting activities and events, including national food parties, excursions to Kizhi and Valaam, rafting, hiking and others! 

Read more and apply here 

Mikhail Vrubel, the mysterious artist of Russia

Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel (1856 – 1910) is usually regarded amongst the Russian painters of the Symbolist movement. In reality, he deliberately stood aloof from contemporary art trends, so that the origin of his unusual manner should be sought in Late Byzantine and Early Renaissance painting.

Vrubel was born in Omsk, Russia, into a military lawyer's family. He was studying at the Faculty of Law at St Petersburg University, when his father had recognized his talent for art. In 1881 Vrubel entered the Imperial Academy of Arts. Even in his earliest works, he exhibited great talent for drawing and an idiosyncratic style. In 1884, he was summoned to replace the lost 12th-century murals and mosaics in the St. Cyril's Church of Kiev with new ones...

Learn more about the artist here!

Demon, 1890

Princess Swan, 1900

Lilac, 1900

Fun and engaging – John Dawton about Language café meeting

Twelve Russian guests, three Enjoy Russian school students, one teacher, dozens of jokes, of tea cups and cookies, laugh, conversation and positive emotions – that is a short description of Language café, an every week meeting arranged by our teachers.

Friday, the 13^th of March was defiantly lucky for those who participated in the meeting. The idea of informal conversations is maybe not new, but it does work! It is so nice to drink tea and learn new. 12 Russian students tried to speak only English on the meeting. Three students of our school (John, Nick and Jamie) were the special guests.

The topic of the conversation was travelling, stereotypes and Russian and British knowledge about each other. “Fun and engaging”, - John described his impression. - “I really liked it, everyone was really interested and eager to learn”. He also admitted that he had been surprised that Russians had been so much aware of London and British history. Personal experience of communicating with foreigners was also discussed. All our students assured us that they considered Russians to be very friendly. Well, as long as you learn them more.

The Language café is supposed to remain weekly. You are welcome to propose any topic you are interested in!

All news about Enjoy Russian language school are here!

Essay of the 6th candidate from Madagaskar.

We are happy to receive another essay of the candidate for the scholarship for Russian language courses. Please welcome Tojo from Madagaskar!

You can read essays of other candidates here 

Hi, I am Tojo RABIBISOA (28) and I am from Madagascar. First of all, I would like to thank the responsible who gave me the opportunity to participate to this program. It is needless to say that our country is very different in term of culture. That could be about food, customs as well as the life style.

The first thing that comes to my mind about Russia is that it is a country that defeated Germany in the Second World War: Yes, Russia is well known as a strong country.

Apart from that, about the weather, from what I have heard, the sunshine during the summer time lasts only 1 month maximum over there, and most of the time it snows, the sky is gray. This is just the opposite to my country, here, it is always hot, hot, rainy …

The first time I met a Russian people was at nightclub here, the guy was dancing the traditional Russian dance. It struck me because I have never seen that before, it was like he crosses his arms and dances with his feet. It was just amazing and funny. Ah , I also had friend in my Facebook account. She wants me to teach her English but I can't speak Russian at all, so… lot of confusions.

Anyway, if I would be accepted to this program, my goals will be: able to involve in a simple conversation, know one Russian song and one traditional dance would be nice.

By Tojo Mahenina‎, Madagaskar. 

That’s for bad luck in Russia!

Learning Russian language means exploring Russian culture and traditions. Russians are very superstitious and are attentive to various omens. If you’re going to live among Russians, you have to know what these superstitions mean and how to react to some of them. On the Friday, the 13th we present you some Russian superstitions and beliefs. 

According to Russians there are many things that you can do to bring bad luck upon your home. Whistling inside your home or office will cause you to lose money. In the same vein if you want to give someone a wallet or purse as a gift, remember to put some money in it or you’ll be bringing poverty upon them!

Learn more about these weird Russians!

Don’t put empty bottles, keys or change on the table

Russians believe that you must not put empty bottles, keys or change on the table. These are all bad omens of financial loss and tears. Also, this omen works not only in the kitchen at home, but also in public places. If one of the guests at a dinner party in a restaurant grabs a bottle that has just been emptied and puts it under the table or starts looking around for a waiter, it in deference to this omen.

Never give knives, clocks or scarves as a present

These things are not considered the best present for a Russian. Scarves, for example, are an omen of tears, knives an omen of enemies, and clocks an omen of parting. If you do nevertheless give somebody one of these things, do not be surprised if they give you a small coin in return. You must definitely take this coin, even if it surprises you that they are trying to pay you for an expensive gift with small change.

Look at yourself in a mirror if you have had to go back

For Russians, going back to the house is a bad omen, a portent of bad luck. So if a Russian discovers after leaving the house that he has forgotten something, he will first decide whether it is something he really needs, and if it is, he will go back, but will make a point of looking himself in the eye in a mirror.

Don’t sit on a table

Many Russians are disturbed when they see scenes in American films where the hero sits on a table or puts his feet on a table. And it is not just because it is unhygienic—sitting on a table is variously seen as an omen of death or poverty.

Sit before a journey

When a guest in someone’s home or a member of the family is getting ready for a long journey, everyone in the house has to sit down before they set off. There is usually nowhere to sit in the hall, especially with all the luggage, but unlike the game, everyone has to sit down, and quickly, as soon as someone says, “Let’s take a seat before the journey.” This is a Russian omen for a safe journey. Everyone in the house has to sit somewhere for a minute. This omen, incidentally, is very useful, because it helps people to calm down after the chaos and remember whether they have forgotten to pack anything.

Essay of the candidate for Enjoy Russian language school scholarship from Indonesia

I think Russians are interesting people.

This year I have just graduated from a university in Indonesia with Russian Studies major. I see through history, that Russians always bet for their future. From Rurik to Peter the Great, from Soviet Union to Russian Federation, I think, Russians always try something new for their social life.

In the last year, I also studied in Russia on a student exchange program, living in Belgorod about four months. There, I have met many Russians. What people said about Russian stereotype, that they rarely to smile, it’s true, I can't deny. But when we have known each other, they will smile more often. I can feel their hospitality and curiosity, even Russian extreme cold weather can't freeze their warm heart.

Russians also very proud of their country and their history. I still remember when they celebrated Victory Day on May 9th, the city centre full of people from many generations, put the ribbon of St. George in their chest, even some bring Russian and Soviet flags. In the street, I saw some cars written with jargon “for victory!” or “T-34”, which imagined that their car as soviet tank. The Russians are good at keeping their historical memories through generations and always conscious to play their role in every main events in the world.

Russians people have their own character. They have their own way of life.

That’s why I said, that Russians are interesting people.

«I think Russians are interesting people.

This year I have just graduated from a university in Indonesia with Russian Studies major. I see through history, that Russians always bet for their future. From Rurik to Peter the Great, from Soviet Union to Russian Federation, I think, Russians always try something new for their social life.

In the last year, I also studied in Russia on a student exchange program, living in Belgorod about four months. There, I have met many Russians. What people said about Russian stereotype, that they rarely to smile, it’s true, I can't deny. But when we have known each other, they will smile more often. I can feel their hospitality and curiosity, even Russian extreme cold weather can't freeze their warm heart.

Russians also very proud of their country and their history. I still remember when they celebrated Victory Day on May 9th, the city centre full of people from many generations, put the ribbon of St. George in their chest, even some bring Russian and Soviet flags. In the street, I saw some cars written with jargon “for victory!” or “T-34”, which imagined that their car as soviet tank. The Russians are good at keeping their historical memories through generations and always conscious to play their role in every main events in the world.

Russians people have their own character. They have their own way of life.

That’s why I said, that Russians are interesting people.

By Maulana Yodha Permana‎, Indonesia

You can read other essays here

Welcome Russian language teacher – Olga Eliseeva

Enjoy Russian language school present you our best teachers. Please meet Olga Eliseeva. Olga is well-experienced tutor. She is loved by any students – pupils from the USA, businessmen from Germany or students from all over the world – no matter how old are they and what their occupation is. Do you want to start speaking Russian in four months? Come to Petrozavodsk and study here!

 Learn more about our teachers here 

"My teacher Olga has a very good method of teaching. Lessons with her were very useful and never boring. Book is logically structured, division of the lessons in topics is very helpful and the exercises are interesting".

Irene Sartori, Italy

"Olga brought more difficult reading (texts on economy, culture, politics etc.) to the lessons. I found that they improved my vocabulary and understanding of complicated structures, used in official language. The exercises, based on these texts and articles, were suitable and educational, too".

Sanna Vehkaoja, Finland