Where to learn???

[Yakboy]

Hi Guys,
I need some advice. If I wanted to study Russian for several
months... which city of these would be the best???

Samara, Odessa, or Volgograd?? I'd rather not be in St Pete, or Moscow. Mainly to get a more provincial living experience. (Oh yeah, and cheaper too) 

It would be late summer to fall.

Needless to say I would be in the process of looking for a partner
as well.
Thanks in advance
 Ron

[Bruce]

Well, it makes sense to learn Russian in Russia.  I think you are better off in the language schools in and around St. Petersburg.  I'd ask the three Russian women who regularly visit this site what their opinion is.  Search the web, ask questions etc.  Here is one link: http://www.linguamir.com/index.htm to a school in Samara.  It sure sounds expensive though. 

[Yakboy]

Thanks Bruce. I worded the question badly. It's the city I'm interested in. All three have good schools.

I'll only be in school for 3-4 hours a day...

I want to spend an extended time there. I wouldnt be able to afford to in St Pete or Moscow.

[Bruno]

[line]
It's the city I'm interested in
[line]


Odessa :

http://www.theodessaguide.com/

http://www.logoi.com/links/travel/citm/odesa.html

Samara :

http://www.stayinsamara.com/ for your stay... and have a little selection of woman from Samara ...

http://www.sras.org/cities.phtml?m=183

http://www.samara.ru/ Great but in russian ...

http://www.logoi.com/links/travel/citm/samara.html

Volgograd :

http://www.travelhog.net/mytriptorussia/index.php?chapterid=17

http://www.logoi.com/links/travel/citm/volgograd.html

 

[jb]

Of the three, if the schools are about equal and with an eye for partners, I'd go with Volgograd.  From what I've seen, the most beautiful women in the FSU come from that region.  

Must be the water or something.

[Elen]

If I wanted to study Russian for several months... which city of these would be the best???

 If you are going to study Russian at Odessa's streets it would be very "special" russian language:D:D

[andrewfi]

If you are seeking good tuition at a low price than I would suggest one of the cities that you wanted to avoid.

There are many language schools in many cities, but perhaps you need to look a your motivation. Is it primarily to learn Russian, or is there some other motivation that takes precedence? If you want to learn Russian well, with a Russian accent and usage, then I think Russia is the best choice. Just as not many people go to India to learn English even though millions of Indians speak English well...

Saint Petersburg has the Smolny Language Institute, it is a part of the Saint Petersburg State University, one of the premier universities in Russia. They claim (with justification) that they can take a student with no knowledge of Russian up to a level that enables them to take university classes in Russian. I have attended there, but only for a couple of weeks, on their summer programme. In reality one needs to spend a couple of months at least. Cost is 80 Euro per week for four academic hours of classes each day. Groups are small, but variable in size. If you do well you can accelerate your studies by moving into a different class group. Your can take summer classes from I think June, until September. I paid $400 for an apartment near the Mariinsky theatre for a month. Costs are as low, or as high as your self indulgence allows. You can live on $2-3 per day, if you want to.

Here is the website: http://www.crlc.pu.ru/prices.shtml

The only downside is that the course does require your diligence and they are hot on grammar. Upside is that you will be at a survival level after just a couple of weeks and able to read. They expect that students are intelligent and able to lok after themsleves. Handholding is not a part of the course, there are more costly routes to take if that is needed.

If necessary they can provide accommodation, but frankly, I suggest you get your own. I heard horror stories from other students and was asked on several occasions how to find accomodation away from the university dorms.

[Yakboy]

Thanks Andrew. That changes things a bit. Didnt realise you can get by reasonably in St Pete. Certainly would be wonderful to be in the middle of such a culturally rich city.

Now all I've got to work out is if this 47 year old brain can stand the strain of learning... or will i blow my cerebral cortex....... Schrplatt!!

Did you find your apartment once you got there?? I was thinking about spending the first month or so in Homestay for that additional smack in the head Russian immersion. Then getting an apartment once I knew the ropes a bit more. Does that make sense??

[andrewfi]

I arranged an apartment before I went, or more accuratley a friend did. I would be inclined to pay more, perhaps 700 Euro or so. If you are willing to pay for homestay then you can afford better than I had.

If you go for homestay then arrange for several, don't stay at the same place for more than a couple of weeks or so. Your hosts will probably get fed up with you.

 

 

[Yakboy]

Andrew, Thats uncanny!!!

<sub>If you go for homestay then arrange for several, don't stay at the same place for more than a couple of weeks or so. Your hosts will probably get fed up with you.


^{How do you know about my bad gas problem??}</sub>

[Elen]

Well nobody wants Moscow but anyway that's the link:?

http://www.bkc.ru/eng/moscow/russian.html

[andrewfi]

I didn't know about your bad gas problem. Well, I guess we all do now!

The suggestion is actually one passed to me by a woman running homestays. Don't forget that most people are living in fairly close proximity. They like the money, but need changes of faces. It would be a tad inconvenient to find oneself in a home stay for a month or more and after a few days finding that things are horrid. If you book a couple, or just the first for a couple of weeks, you can always extend, if mutually convenient.