Russian Language Academy BORN
Learning Russian abroad can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when diving into a complex one like Russian. Leila (UK), a recent student at Russian Language Academy BORN (RLA BORN), took on the challenge and spent 12 weeks immersing herself in the language. From initial nerves to newfound confidence, she shares her experience of studying in Riga, making friends, and finally mastering those tricky case endings. Let’s hear from Leila about her journey!
Leila, do you remember your first day at RLA BORN? Was it love at first sight, or did Russian grammar give you a cold welcome?
– When I first walked in I was quite nervous as I wasn’t sure what to expect; and I felt that I was not as progressed in Russian language as I would’ve liked to have been. However, it did not take long for me to feel settled in as the school was the perfect place for me to learn Russian quickly and also build my confidence.
You mentioned feeling nervous at first. What helped you settle in and start enjoying the process? Any magic tricks (or just good coffee)?
– I felt that the atmosphere at the school was very warm as all the teachers were very enthusiastic and ready to help; and the students were excited to get to know each other. There were planned excursions each week and lots of information about interesting places to go to in Riga. I thought that all my teachers were very kind and patient, but they also did not hesitate to inform me of any mistakes I was making. While it was a little overwhelming at first, I found it very beneficial to know exactly which areas I needed to work on more in the language, rather than unknowingly making the same mistakes.
Teachers correcting mistakes can be scary! How did you handle that? Any moments when you thought, “Oh no, I’ve been saying this wrong the whole time”?
My teachers were encouraging and supportive for the whole duration of my stay; and I feel that they taught me in a way which allowed me to access the language like I never had before. The material was taught in a steady yet detailed manner, so I was able to learn quickly and the weekly tests helped me to consolidate all the new information. At some points I felt that learning Russian almost felt easy, as we always spoke in Russian in class rather than only reading it in textbooks.
At what point did you realize, “Hey, I can actually speak Russian!”? Was it ordering food, asking for directions, or maybe just successfully complaining about the weather in Russian?
Personally, I think that I made more progress in Russian language than I was expecting to. Rather than trying to memorize all the rules and exceptions like I had before, I began to trust my intuition. I feel that I finally understand all the case endings now and when to use them; and that my vocabulary has expanded.
While there are some areas I still need to work on such as mobile verbs, I realized when I was doing the small tests or writing in Russian that I did not need to rely on a dictionary and that my own knowledge was enough. I used to struggle massively with writing in Russian; but now I feel it is something I can do with enjoyment, and I feel proud of the work that I completed. I believe with enough confidence I could order food or ask for directions in Russian for example, I may make a few mistakes, but I would know where to start.
If someone is hesitating to learning Russian abroad, what would you say to them? Any words of encouragement (preferably with minimal grammar rules involved)?
I believe with enough confidence I could order food or ask for directions in Russian for example, I may make a few mistakes, but I would know where to start. . I definitely recommend studying at RLA BORN as you will not believe the amount of progress you will make, even if you are only studying there for a short amount of time. You can start at any level and then with hard work you can begin to move up. It is so advantageous to be in an environment where you are constantly seeing and hearing the language, rather than only reading it in a book.
The teachers at the school are the best and they are always ready to help you with whatever you need.
Leila’s journey proves that with the right environment, great teachers, and a bit of determination, learning Russian abroad can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Спасибо, Leila! 😊