Russian classes online: How does it work?

Hi everyone!

I´ve decided to write this post for those who are interested in learning Russian online, but want to know more about my teaching methods, materials and the general procedure of online teaching and language learning.

1. Online language learning: how does it work?

1.1 Is it just a passive language learning?

An online Russian lesson is like a real Russian lesson, because both the teacher and the student can see each other and speak to each other with the use of headphones, microphone and a web camera.

If you´re interested in online Russian learning, you´ll have to install the programmes calles Live Messenger or Skype because they allow "interactive" communication. 

Online Russian lessons are one-to-one classes, and if your Internet connection is fast and works properly, you´ll be able to hear the teacher perfectly so it won´t be a passive language learning, but the active one, with an important speaking component.

1.2 Do you think that online language learning is just speaking?

No, it is not just speaking.  The newest Russian learning materials are scanned and sent to you in mails, so we both are able to use it during our lessons. It´s also possible to send  the necessary materials by post. 

Writing can also be practiced, but the Russian keyboard has to be installed (homework is sent in Microsoft Word files). 

For the intermediate and advanced levels I use an "Internet notebook": I ask a question to my student (in Russian, of course, say, "What is your favourite food and why?") and they write me their answer in a mail and ask me another question, I check their work and write them my answer and ask them another question, etc. So, the student practices both writing and reading.

For the beginners I just send scanned exercises by mail, so they can do it on their computer or just write them and send them to me in a scanned version.

I also do listening, normally with the help of my blog (communicative situations, for example, in a restaurant, at the doctor's, in a farmacy, etc.). The student can listen everything on his (her) computer.

Of course, I also do home reading, it's an important part of my course. For the beginner, pre-inermediate and intermediate levels I scan text from the reading books I have at home. For my advanced level students I look for interesting texts on the Internet (differents topics, culture, science, politics, economy...)

2. What are my teaching methods like? What kind of  materials are used?

2.1 Are all the language skills included in the course?

I try to include all the components in my Russian language course (grammar, vocabulary, communication) and use the communicative approach during my lessons (grammar, vocabulary and communication are given together and they interdepend). All the general language skills are included in my course (writing, listening, reading, speaking, grammar).

2.2 Are the materials modern and reliable?

I use the newest Russian language materials in my course (the majority of them are scanned, they can also be bought and send by post, some of them are used on the Internet (texts, blog´s materials, etc.)):

Grammar:

-  A Living Russian Grammar (3 books, from the beginner to advanced level); 

- Survival Russian (beginner level, Russian language in communicative dialogues);

- Чистая грамматика (exercises for the advenced level);

- Глаголы движения - без ошибок (Verbs of movement with exercises);

- Повторяем падежи и предлоги (Cases with exercises);

- Трудные случаи русской грамматики (Advenced Russian grammar with exercises);

- Изучаем глагольные приставки (Russian verbal prefixes with exercises);

- Blog´s materials ans tests.

Vocabulary:

- В этой маленькой корзинке (2 books with crosswords and other vocabulary exercises for the beginner level);

- Русская лексика в заданиях и кроссвордах (4 books, from beginner to advanced level, include different vocabulary topics (weather, food, clothes, school, city...);

- Blog´s materilas and tests.

Communication:

- Survival Russian (beginner level, Russian language in communicative dialogues with listening);

- Разговоры по душам (intermediate to advanced level, live Russian dialogues);

-  Современная русская идиоматика (Russian idioms in dialogues and exercises);

- Слушайте, спрашивайте, отвечайте (Everyday situations, listening possible);

- Blog´s materials and tests.

Home reading:

- Шкатулка (texts for the beginner level on different grammar topics);

- Русская грамматика в анекдотах (Russian jokes for the beginner level on different grammar topics);

- Приключения иностранцев в России (Texts for the intermediate to upper-intermediate level);

- Texts from the Internet on different topics (advanced level);

- Blog´s materials and tests.

Business:

- Слово и дело (business Russian course for the beginner to intermediate level, everyday business communication, listening possible);

- Деловая поездка в Россию (business Russian course for the upper-intermediate level).

Preparation for Russian language certificates:

- Тесты.тесты.тесты (2 books of tests, from  beginner to advanced level);

- Русский язык. Цель и результат (Test for the B1 certificate level);

- 112 тестов по русскому языку как иностранному (from A1 to B1 levels);

- Теcты по русскому языку как иностранному (B2-C1 levels).

3. Am I a professional and experienced teacher?

3.1 My work experience and other skills

- I´ve been working in language teaching for 7 years now (I also give Spanish, English and German classes);

- I´ve been teaching Russian for foreigners for 4 years;

- I´ve been teaching Russian for foreigners, Spanish and English ONLINE for 4 years; 

- I did a special preparation course for Russian language teacher at the Pushkin Institute (Moscow, Russia);

- I work at the Spanish Embassy in Moscow  giving Russian classes to the employees;

- I´ve worked with people of different countries and nationalities;

- I´ve got a 4 year experience working at University;

- I have an oficial online tutor status;

- I speak four foreign languages fluently, which helps me as a base for my beginner Russian language students (Spanish, English, German, French);

- YOU CAN CHECK SOME PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF MY STUDENTS HERE (IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW THE POST):

Recommendations

I´ve got all the documents that prove my professional experience, so if you want to check them, just ask me and I send you all the scanned  copies of them. 
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK MY CV (THE FIRST LABEL (ЯРЛЫКИ) ON THE PAGE)).

4 What about the prices and payment?

4.1 Prices

- I´ve decided that the first two classes will be free, so you can get used to my way of teaching and prove that internet Russian learning really works;

- The prices are: 15 Euros for a 60-minute class and 18 Euros for a 90-minute class;
- If you take Russian classes more than once a week, the prices will be: 12 Euros for a 60-minute class, 15 Euros for a 90-minute class.

4.2 Payment

- The payment is realized by a bank transfer to my bank account in Russia or in Spain (every 10 or 20 lessons, after the 5th class given);

- It can be also realized by a transfer to my Paypal or Webmoney account.

If you have any questions, please, mail me: 

profrusoATgmail.com

or just write in the comments below this post.

Thanks for your attention!