An online reading and conversation club for teenagers from Russian-speaking families living abroad.
We read a fragment of a book, watch a scene from a film and discuss a question with no single right answer
We learn to talk about our feelings, explain our opinion and listen closely to others
The conversation goes round the circle - in a group of 5–9 everyone gets the chance to speak
5–9 students
60 minutes
once 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 club is a good fit if your teenager…
Is 12–13 years old and growing up in a Russian-speaking family
Speaks Russian at home but is shy talking to others - here they can comfortably start talking with children their own age
Reads and writes at a basic level - that is enough to take part in the conversation
About the programme
In our meetings we go from “who am I” to “I choose to be myself” - through conversations about yourself, emotions, relationships and growing up. A meeting lasts 60 minutes, and about half of it is discussion. We work with short fragments, so there is no need to read the whole book beforehand.
In the meeting on friendship and trust, for instance, we read fragments of Samarsky and Palacio, watch a scene from “Wonder” and discuss what makes a friendship real.
I am myself
Who I am: my strengths and weak spots, my values, boundaries, fears and dreams.
Emotions are my language
What stands behind each feeling, how to put it into words and how to steady yourself.
People are worlds
Friendship, trust and conflicts: we learn to talk about hard things, ask forgiveness and accept an apology.
Closeness without losing yourself
Boundaries, honesty and responsibility in relationships - we learn to say “yes” and “no”.
A map of the path
The world as a space of choice: we work out what I want, what stops me and what helps me move forward.
I choose to be myself
Inner ground and responsibility for yourself. At the end - a manifesto of your own, the final piece of work and a certificate.
What we read in class
Cultural grounding
Russian prose about kindness, honesty and friendship - short texts and fragments, never whole books.
Paustovsky’s “The Warm Loaf”
Kuprin’s “The Wonderful Doctor”
Samarsky’s “A Rainbow for a Friend”
Zheleznikov
Dashevskaya
Wider horizons
World fiction about growing up - books about accepting yourself, friendship and choice.
Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince”
Palacio’s “Wonder”
Paterson’s “Bridge to Terabithia”
Dahl’s “Matilda”
And others
What we watch and discuss
Every meeting has a short scene from a film: a scene is an easier way into the conversation, and every scene comes with its own question for discussion. We watch “Inside Out”, “Wonder”, “Soul”, “Up”, “Brave”, “Dead Poets Society” and other films.
What a lesson consists of
We read a short fragment silently and out loud
We discuss: what the character feels and why they act as they do
We watch a scene from a film and discuss it - everyone speaks
We do a small task: writing, reflecting or playing
How lesson time is divided
Discussion50%
Reading20%
Writing20%
Film fragment10%
Skills your teenager will develop in the club
Understands their own emotions and learns to talk about them
States an opinion and explains it
Tells apart the feelings and motives of characters
Understands the themes of books: friendship, trust, choice, fears and responsibility
Holds a conversation and takes part in a group discussion
Writes short essays and personal reflections
Learns, through literature, to understand themselves and other people better
Feels more confident in conversation and in discussing texts
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
Group5–9 students
TimetableOnce a week, 60 minutes
56 €/month
Book Discussion Club: The Path to Yourself, Ages 12–13 - 56 €/month.
Saturday
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
17:00
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
We meet on Zoom in a small group: we read a short fragment, watch a scene from a film and discuss it round the circle - in a group of 5–9 everyone gets to speak. At the end we write a few lines. A computer or tablet with a camera is required for the lessons.
No. Everything you need is already included in the price of the course.
Yes. The course ends with a final piece of work: a considered opinion or a short essay. After presenting it, your teenager receives a certificate.
Yes. The club runs alongside the main courses, so the two can be combined.
