Russian language proficiency levels

Beginner Basic Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Advanced

• Phonetics
• Grammar
• Lexics
• Applied language skills

• Phonetics
• Grammar
• Lexics
• Applied language skills

• Syntax

• Phonetics
• Grammar
• Lexics
• Applied language skills

• Syntax
• Stylistics

• Phonetics
• Grammar
• Lexics
• Applied language skills

• Syntax
• Stylistics

Our five-level Russian language study programs are ideal for students with different language skills. The introductory course provides a basic knowledge of the Russian language, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will learn to undestand spoken Russian speech and to express their thoughts in Russian. Our Russian language program is also useful for advanced students who wish to improve their knowledge in any or all areas of language use.

Level 1 (For Beginners) 120-160 hours

This program is for beginners who have just started to learn Russian and get acquainted with Russian culture. We offer an intensive course in Russian grammar, phonetics, and spoken Russian.

Russian Phonetics

An introductory course of Russian phonetics and intonation. You will study the peculiarities of the Russian phonetic system, such as word stress and intonation constructions and examples of their usage in speech. You will have practical training in correct pronunciation.

Grammar and Vocabulary

Introduction to the basics of the Russian Grammar (case system, forms of Russian verbs, main syntactical constructions). You will acquire an active vocabulary of 800-1000 lexical units.

Applied Language Skills

  • You will learn to react correctly in everyday communicative situations both in and outside the classroom
  • You will be able to comprehend the speech of Russian native speakers on a variety of topics (100 – 150 words)
  • You will get acquainted with basic forms of Russian speech etiquette
  • You will be able to express your thoughts and ideas in Russian
  • You will learn to read short adapted texts (200 words) on household, classroom, and socio-cultural issues.

Level 2 (Basic Russian) 120-160 hours

The program is for beginning students who want to continue their study of Russian language and culture; or for those, who wish to renew their basic knowledge of Russian after a break in their studies and to activate their vocabulary. Including an intensive lingua-cultural orientation the program helps you to communicate with Russian native speakers on everyday topics, to read and comprehend short original texts.

Russian Phonetics

You continue your acquaintance with the peculiarities of the Russian phonetic system, including the basic rules of pronunciation and accentuation on the basis of a comparison between Russian and your native language.

Grammar and Vocabulary

Key points of Russian grammar, such as the case system, the general concept of verb aspect, verbs of motion, the structure of simple and complex sentences. Your vocabulary covers 1000 – 1300 units.

Applied Language Skills

  • You will learn to overcome psychological and language barriers
  • You will meet your communicative needs in social, cultural, and classroom environments
  • You can comprehend the oral speech of native Russian speakers on a variety of the topics (300 – 400 words)
  • You will learn to express your own thoughts on various topics
  • You will learn to read authentic and non-adapted texts on social and cultural issues (700 words).

Level 3 (Intermediate) 120-160 hours

This program is for students with some background knowledge of Russian. The program improves your knowledge of Russian phonetics, morphology and syntax. It improves your ability to read original texts and strengthens the writing and speaking skills needed in everyday communication. Students in Russia for the first time will be enrolled in an intensive course of language and culture. Depending on your individual needs and professional interests, you may choose one specialized course appropriate to your level of proficiency.

Russian Phonetics

A corrective course of pronunciation covering the main Russian intonation patterns and aimed at developing spontaneous oral skills.

Grammar and Vocabulary

Corrective course to develop lexico-grammatical knowledge. In-depth study of basic grammar points such as the use of case forms, verbal prefixes, verb aspects and other most difficult grammar issues. You will have a vocabulary of 1500 – 2300 lexical units.

Applied Language Skills

  • You learn to activate your oral skills
  • You learn to speak Russian correctly and to comprehend native speakers in basic communicative situations
  • You can participate in discussions with native speakers on social, cultural and political topics
  • You will study materials dealing with regional peculiarities, the main issues of Russian history, literature and culture, current topics in the social and intellectual life of modern Russia
  • You will learn to read short texts of fiction and non-fiction.

Level 4 (Advanced Intermediate) 160- 192 hours

This program is for students who have systematically-developed background knowledge of phonetics, morphology and syntax of the Russian language and experience in everyday communication. It is designed to help you to improve your pronunciation and to enhance your knowledge of Russian grammar. It introduces some peculiarities of functional styles and expands your vocabulary and socio-cultural background knowledge. Depending on individual needs and professional interest, the student may choose two special courses.

Russian Phonetics

You will improve your knowledge of practical phonetics and work to correct articulatory and phonetic mistakes deriving from native language interference.

Grammar and Vocabulary

  • You will study some of the most difficult points of Russian grammar and word usage
  • You will study the peculiarities of functional styles
  • You will enrich your vocabulary by up to 2500 – 5000 lexical units.

Applied Language Skills

  • You will continue your study of Russian history, literature and culture, and the social and intellectual life of modern Russia
  • You will learn to analyze texts of different genres (encyclopedic, publicist, science fiction and fiction)
  • You will learn to speak correctly on social and political topics important to you and native Russian speakers
  • You will acquire experience in not only in participating in discussions but also in leading them
  • You will work on understanding spoken Russian through viewing TV programs and movies, and through lectures by guides on excursions to points of literary and historical interest in Moscow and other Russian cities.
  • Classes 4-8 hours per week . You can choose 2 or 3 specialized courses among the ones offered.

Level 5 (Advanced) 160- 192 hours

This program is for students who speak Russian rather fluently. They already have reading and writing skills, as well as background cultural knowledge. This program helps to improve your knowledge of Russian grammar, word-formation, vocabulary, and stylistics. It helps you to perfect your oral skills and to study some works of classical and modern Russian literature. Depending on individual needs and professional interests, students may choose more than two special courses.

Russian Phonetics

You will improve your Russian pronunciation with the help of this corrective course of Russian Phonetics.

You will work on the most difficult cases of stress in Russian words and intonation in sentences with expressive meaning.You will study stylistic distinctions in spoken Russian.

Grammar and Vocabulary

  • You will study in details the most difficult points of Russian grammar, including the syntax of simple and complex sentences. You will learn to use correctly words similar in meanings, but different in usage
  • You will learn to understand idioms in fiction, newspaper articles, movies, performances, and TV programs.
  • You will study some aspects of practical stylistics, basic trends of the Russian language development at the end of the XX century, problems of style and norm, style and fashion.

Applied Language Skills

  • You will work to become “culturally literate”, that is , to acquaint yourself with cultural facts and concepts familiar to educated native speakers
  • You will perfect your skills of monologue speech and improve your writing style through a study of texts with various ethno-cultural characteristics
  • You will be able to compose texts of different styles, such as narration, description, explanation, and discussion
  • You will learn to analyze texts of different genres linguistically and stylistically.
  • You will acquire a vocabulary of more than 10 000 lexical units.

Calculate your Program in 2 minutes