"I'm happy with my course and wouldn't change a thing. My teacher is fantastic, and she is good about setting a pace/plan but adjusting it to my needs."
Dana Gorodetsky
Russian course in Online.
Russian Lessons in Washington, D.C
Not everyone speaks English in Washington DC, in fact, 17% of city residents speak other languages at home. According to the 2016 census, one of the most popular languages spoken by members of the local foreign-born community is Russian. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially if you take into consideration that Washington DC is home to important institutions like The Russian Cultural Centre, the official home of Russian culture in the United States that attracts many Russian tourists and Russian-American residents to the city. This makes Washington DC a perfect place to get immersed in the Russian language and get a taste of its culture, so make the first step to becoming a fluent Russian speaker by starting a language course and enjoy the many advantages it can bring to your life!
Why Study Russian in Washington, D.C?
Learn Russian for Work and Travel
The Washington DC metropolitan area has the strongest economy in the United States, therefore, there are many excellent positions in the area you can apply for. However, because there are so many qualified professionals in the city, the job market is one of the most competitive in the country so if you want to stand out in any job interview, a smart thing you can do is to learn a second or third language, as you’ll impress local employers and beat other candidates who are applying for the job. Although there are many languages you can learn, Russian is one of the best, as there are many great job openings in the city for Russian speakers like Program Officer for the U.S Russian Foundation, Facilities Management Specialist for Marten Transport, and OSINT Collector for Leidos.
Learn Russian for Social
There are many different options to explore Russian culture in Washington DC. If you love folk music, you can enjoy performances by The Washington Balalaika Society, which presents more than a dozen concerts each year, including its annual Spring and Fall Concert Series where you can enjoy Russian songs played with traditional folk instruments like the balalaika, domra, and bayan. This wonderful group of musicians also performs at festivals, parks, museums, churches, and other public and private venues throughout the year, so you’ll have many opportunities to listen to these talented performers and discover Russian folk music.
Another great way to get to know Russian culture is to attend the Russian Festival held every October at the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, where you’ll be able to try traditional Russian food, buy souvenirs and enjoy a variety of entertainment that includes choir performances, dances, and live music. On top of this, there will be religious artworks imported from Russia like paintings and beautiful icons to entice the annual guests.
Learn Russian for Culture
If you’re looking for a social gathering where you can meet Russian native speakers or advanced learners who can help you boost your language skills, you should check out the meetings organized by The DC Russian Language Meetup Group. The point of these meetings is to provide local learners the opportunity to meet other like-minded people in the city and practice their skills in a welcoming setting. They meet every Thursday at Zorba’s Cafe, located at 1612 20th St NW, where you can chat in Russian over a coffee, and on Sundays at Restaurant Rus Uz, located at 1000 N Randolph Street, where you can enjoy delicious Russian cuisine with other people that love Russian culture as much as you do.
Additionally, if you enjoy reading and want to explore the works of different Russian writers, you can attend the online meetings held by The Russian (and European) Literature Book Club of DC, where you’ll find many other locals eager to discuss imperial, Soviet, and contemporary literature by authors like Pushkin, Goncharov, Gogol, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Babel, Bulgakov, and Nabokov. The discussions are held in English, so even if you’re just starting learning the language and want to expand your knowledge of Russian Literature, you’ll really enjoy these meetings. What’s more, if you are fluent enough to read in Russian, you’ll be able to borrow some of these novels from other members and enjoy them in their original language.
Where to learn Russian in and around Washington, D.C?
Fortunately, there are many ways to learn Russian in the city, so no matter what your language goals are, there are many options you should check out. If you are currently studying at university or intend to do so, there are great Russian language courses at George Washington University that you might find interesting. They go from beginner level to advanced in addition to helping you develop your language skills, they’ll get you immersed in the cultural and political history of the Soviet Union and modern-day Russia. On the other hand, if you are just beginning to study the language and want to find resources to learn the basics, you should visit the Library of Congress, located at 101 Independence Ave SE, which has useful books like Fundamentals of Russian by Horace Gray Hunt and Introductory Russian Course for Students of Science and Technology by Viktor Balin. However, the fastest way to become a fluent Russian speaker in the city is to book a course at Listen & Learn. What makes our language courses so unique is that they are completely personalized to our student's needs and interests, which means there are no two courses alike. If you contact us today, one of our native teachers will tailor lessons that fit every single one of your requirements so that you get the perfect Russian course you’ve been looking for.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Russian
These Russian lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students with a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Russian - required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population, students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Russian culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Russian examination. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Russian
These Russian Lessons are intended for people who really need to learn Russian to help make that difference in their work. For beginners, it will be useful to learn greetings and basic business etiquette, at higher levels reading and then writing become more important. Typical students include those involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where an additional language is required, and those working with international colleagues, academia and government. Even on our most basic lesson for Beginners, students should expect to end the lesson with basic Telephone Russian and e-mail Russian skills for communications as well as Survival Russian required for short visits to a country. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Russian
The Russian lessons are also available for 2 or more people studying together (Two-to-One Russian Lesson or Small Group In-Company Russian Lesson). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn do not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people although In-Company Taster Russian Lessons can be run with up to 12 people. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Russian
Your colleagues and yourself can be trained by our native-speaking fully-qualified Russian tutors at a time and location to suit you. Classes can take place any day, even weekends, and can happen in the morning, afternoon or evening. If the case may be that your home or office is not convenient, there is always the option to take your classes at the office of your teacher. Study books for the lesson are provided. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Russian
Lessons in Russian are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Russian Lesson or Small Group In-Company Russian Lesson). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Russian sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Top Tips For…
russian Songs
"Ya Soshla S Uma" (All the Things She Said) - t.A.T.u
You’ve probably heard this song (or at least its name) because this is one of the few Russian pieces that was a hit in the USA, and even an English version was made as a result, although it primarily shot to fame for its 2002 video featuring a controversial kiss between two girls. The chorus repeats at least 4 times, so it’s quite easy to pick up some words and phrases (like “running through my head”: А они говорят - виновата сама). Plus, you’ll also have the English version to compare both lyrics in case you have any doubts about your understanding of the song. Listen to this catchy tune here.russian Songs
“Ой, да не Bечер” - Pelageya
Looking to learn a bit more about Russian history while fine-tuning your foreign language skills and listening to great music? This song by Pelageya might be what you need. The folk artist sings about Stepan, a Cossack who led an uprising against the royalty of Russia in the 17th century. There is a lot of history within this song, which makes it very special, while you can also learn the Russian tenses, as the poetic persona mentions the past, the present, and the future while describing the country. Click here to listen to this song.“В Лесу Pодилась Елочка” - Children’s Song
Want to learn more about the fascinating Russian culture while listening to catchy songs? Then, you should not miss A Pine Tree Was Born in the Woods, a song that is always on the radio during the Russian New Year. Children love this track and learn it at school, so it will be hard to find a Russian person who’s not familiar with it. With a very slow pace and a lot of repetition, this song is perfect for beginners who want to start fine-tuning their listening comprehension and pronunciation. It’s also easy to find English translations! Listen to this catchy tune here.Testimonials
From our clients all over the world
Client case studies
Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.
James Churchill
Russian in Saskatoon
My experience with all the people at the company couldn't have been better - they are #1 in my books and the professionalism that they have treated me with is outstanding
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
Eaux Vives Water, Inc
Language learned: French in Toronto.
Ellipse Communications Inc.
Language learned: English in Dallas.
