Liden & Denz is driven by education and learning – and not just for our students. Our experienced teachers all hold degrees in Linguistics or Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language (RKI), and are constantly learning and educating each other about new and innovative ways to deliver effective language instruction. Our teachers attend regular training sessions to review their teaching methods and discuss successes and challenges, working in teams to assess different teaching methods and evaluate new teaching material. One of the results of this teacher collaboration is Я люблю русский язык, Liden and Denz’s self-developed textbook for beginner and elementary Russian students. Covering levels A0 through A2 (outlined below), this text serves as the foundation for a multi-faceted approach to Russian language training and includes standard text material, accompaniments for classroom instruction, and many audio files accessible by tablet or smartphone.
Our schools also have beautiful, modern facilities, with renovated classrooms, free WiFi, and student iPads to ensure that students are equipped to maximise the results of their lessons.
In order to encourage our students to use their language skills outside of the classroom in their everyday life, we incorporate interactive teaching methods into our lessons from very early on. We consider it very important that our students keep on practicing their Russian after class. This is why we regularly organise trips to various events, markets or railway stations – for every student to join! Not only do these trips allow the students to explore the city from a different perspective, but they also expose them to the challenges of understanding different speech patterns and dialects in places that might be considerably noisy. Mastering these challenges and distractions boosts the students’ confidence and makes them more comfortable in non-familiar situations when they can employ their Russian skills.
Liden & Denz language courses are delivered through a communicative approach that combines social and historical context with a thorough and systematic grammatical approach. This method can be integrated into a wide range of techniques including historical lessons, linguistics and etymology study, role-playing, discussions, and even drawing. A communicative approach that highlights both everyday usage and a solid understanding of grammar is especially important due to the structure of the Russian language. Its non-fixed word order inflection system means that both the ending of a word and its placement in relation to others can change the meaning of a phrase. The Liden & Denz teaching approach allows students to develop both an intuitive and structural understanding of these components, strengthening their Russian skills. Students progress through their Russian language lessons gradually, moving from basic grammatical concepts to more complex challenges. For example, a student might begin by naming objects, then learn to describe locations, and then discuss actions with objects. Our aim is to give our students who learn Russian in St. Petersburg the means to express themselves in everyday situations through the constant training of communicative skills and models.
Students have multiple ways to ensure that their achievements at Liden & Denz are recognised.
Liden & Denz courses are divided into levels according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Students may pursue any of the lesson levels described below, with beginner to intermediate courses available all year, and upper-intermediate and advanced lessons open during the summer. Courses of all levels can be delivered in a variety of formats, depending on the needs of the student. The course information listed below is based on average progression times. Some students may need more time to complete a level, and students in one-to-one courses will likely move through the levels faster. Are you unsure which level is the best fit for you? Contact us, or take our online test to find the perfect course to help you learn Russian.
The student can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed to satisfy concrete needs. Can engage in simple interactions, so long as the other party speaks slowly and clearly with patience.
The student can understand sentences and common expressions related to areas of immediate relevance, such as personal and family information, errands, or local geography. Can describe immediate needs and aspects of their own background in simple terms.
The student can understand key familiar points related to work, school, leisure, etc. Can manage situations likely to arise while travelling, and can describe experiences, events, hopes, and ambitions. Can also motivate and justify different plans and points of view.
The student can produce clear and detailed text on multiple subjects and can explain opinions related to topical issues. Is fluent enough that spontaneous interactions with native speakers are possible without difficulty for either party.
The student can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for expressions. Can demonstrate controlled use of language patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices to expound clear and detailed text on complex subjects. Is both flexible and effective in their use of language across contexts, including social, academic, and professional scenarios.
The student has no difficulty understanding any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, delivered quickly by a native speaker. Can appreciate films, plays, TV and the radio almost as fully as a native speaker, including humour, nuance, and implied meaning. Can express themselves spontaneously and clearly without sacrificing nuance and complexity. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, and reconstruct arguments into a coherent product.
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