Unlocking the world of Russian: St Petersburg University’s online language course in Africa

This programme, offered through the Russian Language Centre of Open Education, aims to cater to the burgeoning interest in Russian among African students, providing them with expert guidance from one of Russia’s oldest and most prestigious institutions.

The opportunity to learn Russian was a chance I wouldn’t miss — I have never heard of Russian language being taught in Kenya, and if there are any language schools teaching Russian then they must be very few and highly costly. SPbU was offering to learn Russian language for free, how could I miss it?

Robert Jillo, Kenya

The course is designed to be beginner-friendly, with a strong focus on developing communication skills. Students are introduced to the intricacies of the Russian language, including its six cases and verb types, under the tutelage of experienced instructors. Upon completion, participants can evaluate their proficiency through the official TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language).

Students’ diverse backgrounds 

Our students come from varied backgrounds, representing different countries and age groups. For example, Chantalle Bergh, a South African ballerina who studied Choreography and Pedagogy in Russia, saw the course as an opportunity to maintain her Russian language skills, while Collins Wandera, an employee of a technology company in Kenya, was drawn to the course by his curiosity about Russian culture and people. The challenge of mastering a complex language, affinity with Russian political values, building a deeper connection with a romantic partner from Russia — the reasons for choosing Russian are many, but for many students Russian is first and foremost a reliable tool for expanding career and business opportunities or paving the way for a university degree in Russia. This diversity of backgrounds and motivations only helps enrich the learning environment, fostering a community of learners with unique perspectives. 

Course strengths 

Despite the course launching only a year ago, students have already praised its structured approach, dedicated instructors, and comprehensive curriculum. The online format and availability of recorded sessions offer convenience, while the interactive nature of the classes, which includes group discussions and practical exercises, draws the students out of their shells and into open communication as quickly as possible.

At the beginnings of most classes I was rather intimidated, but that disappeared with the group interactions in the learning process. At the end of each lesson, I felt a bit exhausted, but eager to tackle the homework assignment. Mastering the mysteries of cursive writing has also been tremendous fun.

Irvine Meyer, South Africa

In addition to the emphasis on communication skills, the course requires continuous assessment and a final exam — and a pace and rigour befitting one of Russia’s leading universities.

Room for growth 

The course acknowledges areas where improvements can be made. Students have expressed a desire for a variety of supplementary study materials, in particular, a unified course textbook but also a course dictionary and graded readers.

Explore full students’ reviews

On the technical side, internet connection issues, particularly in regions with less stable connectivity, were a concern for multiple students. The course’s final examination uses an online proctoring system that may be confusing for a student using it for the first time. The University’s educators’ team is tirelessly working on solving the technical issues, rounding out the teaching materials selection, and expanding available courses further into intermediate and advanced territory.

Overcoming the challenges of learning Russian 

The Cyrillic alphabet, the six grammatical cases warping words beyond recognition, rolling ’r’s and other peculiarities of pronunciation — Russian language is notoriously difficult to master but our students have found various ways to overcome these obstacles.

Having mastered the course students are well equipped to test their skills at the annual SPbU Olympiad of Russian as a foreign language

Daniel Kamau dedicated extra time to practice outside of class, using tools such as Google Translate, Duolingo, and YouTube, with most students looking for supplementary online resources for clarity and expansion of course material. Abdoulahi Sahabi overcame pronunciation difficulties using the classic trick of tireless pronunciation drills — truth be told, there is hardly any shortcut for this skill. Wayne Otieno shared the challenge and the benefit of untangling the differences between English, Swahili and Russian grammar. These strategies demonstrate the students’ commitment and perseverance in mastering the Russian language.

Looking forward 

SPbU hopes that the Russian language online course has a transformative impact on students’ lives, offering concrete language skills, expanding career opportunities, fostering understanding and appreciation of Russian history and culture. Many students are committed to studying further, taking TORFL exams, and conquering the next language levels — A2 or B1. The course’s accessibility removes financial and distance barriers, allowing a broader audience to benefit from this educational opportunity.

Students express deep gratitude to their teachers, including Mikhail Dovgolyk, Mariya Maksimovna Zhukova, and Maria Gromakova, for their patience, dedication, and expertise, which have been instrumental in their language learning journey.

This initiative by St Petersburg University and the Russkiy Mir Foundation exemplifies the transformative power of education in bridging gaps and fostering connections across continents. As the course continues to evolve, it promises to open new doors for cultural exchange and academic collaboration between Africa and Russia.

Official website