"I am making good progress with Stella; she is patient and encouraging ..."
Byron Hauser
Russian course in Miami.
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
Those who would benefit the most from these Russian tutorials are those who feel they need to learn Russian to help them out in their business lives. For starters, learning salutations and business etiquette is integral; once these have been practiced then reading and writing lessons can start. Typical studiers have been those involved in international import/export, negotiations and acquisitions, those in multinational companies requiring another language, and those working in any way with international governments and relevant administration. Just our simplest lesson for beginners will have students finishing the lessons with basic telephone and e-mail Russian, as well as survival Russian should a visit to the country be necessary. Inquire now about our Russian Courses or Take A Free Russian Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Russian
Those wishing to learn Russian in groups of 2 or more together (Two-to-One Russian Lessons or Small Group In-Company Russian Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Russian proficiency, must have the same needs from the language, and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn do not propose group sizes or more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Russian Lessons can occur 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
Our native-speaking qualified Russian teachers can guide you and your group at your work or at home, at a time convenient to you. Classes can take place on any day of the week - even weekends - morning, afternoon or evening. If needs be, if meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you. 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
If there are 2 or more of you with the same level of Russian, the same targets within the language, and be able to study at the same time and location, then you'll be happy to know that these Russian lessons can also be made available for Two-to-One Russian Lessons or Small Group In-Company Russian Lessons. Listen & Learn do not generally recommend classes of more than 6-8 people, although Taster lessons in Russian can run with up to 12 people. Bookings must be made for all participants at the same time. 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
Allianz Real Estate
Language learned: English in New York.
Dupont Capital Management
Language learned: Italian in Philadelphia.
