An online Russian language and writing course for teenagers from Russian-speaking families living abroad.
Learning to express thoughts in Russian precisely - from the word to a text of your own
We read classics and contemporary prose, and work with media and everyday messaging
We write in every lesson and learn to edit our own texts and give feedback on each other’s
3–6 students
60 minutes
2 lessons a week
Zoom, online
Certificate on completion
23 yearsof teaching experience
4.9Google rating
270Google reviews
Behind the Pygmalion Academy programme is Pygmalion Language Centre, a language centre founded in Latvia in 2003. About the centre
This course is a good fit if your teenager…
Is 12–14 years old and growing up in a Russian-speaking family
Talks about everyday topics and reads simple texts, but is still unsure in writing
Speaks Russian confidently, but makes mistakes and wants to write more precisely
About the programme
In our lessons a teenager travels from the single word to a text of their own: reading classics and contemporary prose, working with media and everyday messaging, discussing, writing, and learning to edit their own texts. Each lesson lasts 60 minutes.
The word and the sentence
How words and sentences work, and how to phrase thoughts naturally.
The text as one thought
Learning to build a text, hold the topic and choose the right style.
Editing
Learning to spot imprecision and make our texts clearer and more exact.
The final project
We choose our own topic, build the structure and write a coherent text of 10–12 sentences. At the end - a certificate for completing the course.
What we read in class
Classics
Short stories from the 20th-century Russian classics - stories worth talking about.
Paustovsky
Dragunsky
Zoshchenko
Kuprin
Prishvin
And others
Contemporary
Contemporary prose about children their own age and about the present day.
“Manyunya” by Abgaryan
Media texts
The living language around them.
Popular science for teenagers
Blogs and social posts
Messenger conversations
Instructions
Podcast scripts
What a lesson consists of
We read a short text aloud, taking turns, on a shared screen
We discuss what we read and work through the words, sentences and structure of the text
We do a language warm-up or a mini-game in pairs and small groups
We write and edit texts - on our own or in pairs
We make a mini-project, sum up, and get a short piece of homework
How lesson time is divided
Discussion30%
Reading15%
Writing30%
Grammar and structure25%
Skills your teenager will develop during the course
Builds vocabulary and learns to choose precise words
Notices spelling difficulties and knows how to check a spelling
Understands how words and parts of speech work, and uses that when writing
Builds logical sentences with natural word order
Writes clear, correct and expressive texts of different genres
Edits their own texts: improves the logic, style and precision
Tells registers of speech apart and picks the one that fits the situation
Reads and analyses fiction, media, instructions and blogs
Teachers
Diana
Teaches the teen courses and the discussion club - ages 12–17
The more languages a person knows, the brighter and fuller their life becomes.
Learn more
Education
BA in Philology (University of Latvia), teacher training (Liepāja University)
Experience
20 years of teaching
Languages
Russian (native), English, Spanish
Her students have won prizes at national Russian language olympiads
Teaches the “From Word to Meaning” and “The Art of Word and Thought” courses, as well as all three discussion club groups
Raisa A.
Teaches the teen courses and the discussion club - ages 12–17
When we find the exact word for a thought, confidence follows - and language opens up our inner strength, becoming a support in talking with others and in understanding ourselves and the world.
Learn more
Education
MA in Philology
Languages
Russian (native), English (B2)
Teaches Russian language and literature to students aged 11–18, drama and public speaking, and the “Media Literacy” and “The Magic of Words” clubs
Her students have won and placed in international and national olympiads in Russian language and literature, in creative competitions and at debate tournaments
Takes part in national and international educational projects
Author of teaching materials; methodology consultant and textbook reviewer
Timetable and price
Group3–6 students
TimetableTwice a week, 60 minutes
112 €/month
Russian: From Word to Meaning, Ages 12–14 - 112 €/month.
Monday and Wednesday
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
Tuesday and Thursday
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
Times are Eastern European Time (EEST, GMT+3; EET, GMT+2 in winter).
We’ll settle on convenient days and a time together with you when you enroll, taking your time zone into account.
Children growing up with two languages learn to see the world from a broader perspective and easily switch between different ways of thinking.
Russian develops thinking skills
By learning the language more deeply, children learn to express their thoughts more precisely, understand complex ideas, and formulate their own ideas - building intellectual maturity.
A link to culture and family
A language is stories, traditions and the people closest to you. It helps a child feel part of the family and keep their roots.
Frequently asked questions
Lessons take place on Zoom in a small group: your teenager can see the teacher and the other students, discusses texts, works through them on a shared whiteboard, and writes together with the group. A computer or tablet with a camera is required for the lessons.
Yes. After three or four lessons the teacher can move a student between levels A and B.
In every lesson there is a short text of 3–6 sentences: a dialogue, a description or a piece of reasoning. Then we edit what has been written, on our own or in a pair. We also work separately on the typical bilingual errors: calques from the surrounding language and word forms.
No. Everything you need is already included in the price of the course.
Yes. The course ends with a final text of 10–12 sentences, after which the student receives a certificate of completion. The teacher sees their progress in every lesson - through the short texts and the piece written at the end of each block.
