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Recommendation
I would like to thank everyone who made my stay in Kaliningrad such a rewarding experience. Special thanks go to Irina, the Director of the Russian Language School PRIVET!, Marina, my Russian language teacher, and Tatiana, my tandem partner.
Irina and her staff at PRIVET! efficiently organized my stay in Kaliningrad, and I enjoyed an excursion to the Curonian Spit an several evenings at the theater. Marina's education and years of experience as a teacher of Russian as a foreign language were clearly evident. First she evaluated my ability to speak Russian. Then she developed a lesson plan that effectively focused on my language needs. My Russian language lessons were interesting and the study materials were varied. Tatiana was a charming and enthusiastic guide and a wonderful companion. I am glad that I got to know Irina, Marina and Tatiana in Kaliningrad.
As a result of good organization and a lesson plan designed specifically for me, I was able to complete 100 individual lessons in 3 weeks. The combination of formal, structured lessons with Marina and informal, unstructured conversations with Tatiana made it possible or me to gain renewed confidence, and a higher level of competence, in my ability to speak Russian. My only regret is that I did not schedule more time at the Russian Language School PRIVET! I hope to return some day, and the next time I will plan to say longer.
I recommend the Russian Language School PRIVET! in Kaliningrad to anyone who is interested in learning Russian in Russia. Being totally immersed in the Russian language and working with caring people who are genuinely interested in your progress is a great way to learn to speak Russian.
John Root, USA, 29 March - 18 April
About "PRIVET!"
I will try to give you some comments on Privet and Kaliningrad. Difficult task, because it is - an adventure!
Privet is a small, not very formal School. The owner/leader, Irina Vinokurova (speaks only little English, but always has nice people like Evgenia, Pavel, Sergej etc. around her to translate), and all her co-workers and teachers showed to be very, very service-minded and were open to all my suggestions and requirements. They will really take good care of you. Some examples: after one week of intensive course, 30 lessons/week, which I found too hard, they arranged for me to continue on a 20hr/week basis. They arranged for me a meeting with senior city officials in my professional field (environment), and drove me out to the landfill. They drove me out to the sea on sundays, etc. etc. The financial arrangement is fair and they manage it correctly (invoicing, trust etc.).
Were the methods, materials, and teachers effective? For me, yes. I was there in December and, as the only student at that time, had private classes with Raissa Petrowna, a retired, very competent and very energetic teacher of "Russian for foreigners" (this is, in Russia, a special career, different from "ordinary" russian teachers or slavists). Raissa and I agreed from the first moment that we would ONLY speak Russian, nothing else. So we did! I also stayed with her in her appartment and she was an excellent cook! So I really had a "total immersion" experience, talking Russian from the first minute, going to city, market, concerts, learning poems and songs.
The one teacher - one student system could have, though, its risks and limitations. (1) In case you do not go well along with your teacher. Privet would in such a case probably help you to change to somebody else. For me it was just right, I liked the combination of learning - not only the language, but sharing everyday life in a post-soviet province capital, with all its surprises and limitations. (2) Some people prefer to work in groups rather than alone with one teacher. I did not have that option in that time, but would probably have prefered the dynamics of a group. Difficult to assess if learning effectiveness would have been higher or lower.
The book and cassettes are modern, good, practical. You do not have to fear academic style. My teacher was, though, pretty strict on grammar!
What did you like best about the program? I succeeded in learning some Russian, and besides that I learned a lot about Russia (yesterday and today), about Kaliningrad, about people, about myself.
What did you like least? Border control when entering by bus (from Berlin via Poland). The high visa cost.
What did you like least about the living arrangements? As commented above: You can not know in advance what you will find. If you are ready to put up with what people have - actually: share it, you will be happy. But forget "western" standards of comfort and privacy! If you can appreciate what people will share with you, you will be right.
Is there anything that you didn't bring with you that you wished you had brought? No. You can get anything there. Good dictionaries are much cheaper there.
Jonathan Hecke, Environmental Sanitation Specialist, St.Gallen, Switzerland. December 2003.
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To potential students of "PRIVET!"
From Sept. 22, 2003 to October 13 (3 weeks) I was a student of the "PRIVET!" Russian Language School. I was met at the Kaliningrad airport by a school representative who spoke excellent English. The school has found me reasonably prices rooms in a guest house in a nice neighborhood close to good transportation. I was very pleased with the accommodations.
Included in the tuition were two excursions outside the city and a city tour.
Due to starting after the "seasons" for classes, I had a private tutor, Marina. She was very patient with me. Being 77 years old, I do not learn as fast as a 20-year-old student. I speak Spanish, French and German, but Russian is more difficult. I had actual hours (5 class hours) of instruction a day.
Now I can say and read enough Russian to find my way in any Russian-speaking city and I felt quite comfortable in Kaliningrad.
I recommend the school to others, as I have been quite satisfied.
Loren Parks, Oregon, U.S.A.
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