Learn Russian Language | Summer School (5-10 credits)
10 weeks (or 5-9 weeks), from Jun 22, 2025 to Aug 29, 2025

Yerevan, Armenia

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Apply by May 28, 2025

Price: $4,190

Discounted Price: $3,490 (If payment done until Jan 15, 2025)

Come and join the Russian language summer school organized by ASPIRANTUM - Armenian School of Languages and Cultures. You can start the program on June 22, June 29, or July 6, 2025, and stay up to 10 weeks until August 29, 2025. If you prefer a shorter program, there are options for 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 weeks. For more information and to apply, please see the details below. Homestays with local Russian-speaking families are available for those seeking a more immersive experience.

Please see the details of the Dostoyevsky Scholarship here: https://aspirantum.com/scholarships/dostoyevsky-grants-to-learn-russian

We offer two discount options for early applicants. Check out the details below to take advantage of these savings.

See the photos of our programs on ASPIRANTUM's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aspirantumcom/

See the videos about our programs and video testimonials on ASPIRANTUM's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@aspirantum

The testimonials of ASPIRANTUM Russian language summer and winter school alumni are available here: https://aspirantum.com/testimonials

Homestays with local Russian-speaking families are available for those seeking a more immersive experience. See below for more details about homestay.

Learn Russian

2025 Russian language summer school will help the participants master written and oral modern Russian skills, read and interpret Russian texts from different periods, and rapidly deepen their knowledge of colloquial Russian.
Below, in the application form, you may select a 5-10 weeks (100 - 200 hours, 5-10 credits) program starting from June 22, June 29, or July 6, 2025 (please ensure that you include the preferred start date in the "Other information" field of your application form below). 

(1 hour = 60 minutes)

10 weeks - 10 credits - 200 in-classroom hours and 250 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 450 hours) 
9 weeks - 9 credits - 180 in-classroom hours and 225 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 405 hours) 
8 weeks - 8 credits - 160 in-classroom hours and 200 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 360 hours) 
7 weeks - 7 credits - 140 in-classroom hours and 175 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 315 hours)
6 weeks - 6 credits - 120 in-classroom hours and 150 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 270 hours)
5 weeks - 5 credits - 100 in-classroom hours and 125 hours of out-of-class student work (Total 225 hours)

The ten-week Russian language summer school offers 200 hours of intensive Russian language classes for 50 days (from Monday to Friday each week). Every day, the participants will receive Russian language instruction for 4 hours and after-class lectures, and extra training. 

The classes start in the mornings or at noon, and the schedule is the following:

09:00 (14:00) - 10:00 (15:00) - Russian language class
10:00 (15:00) - 10:10 (15:10) - Coffee Break
10:10 (15:10) - 11:10 (16:10) - Russian language class
11:10 (16:10) - 11:20 (16:20) - Coffee Break
11:20 (16:20) - 12:20 (17:20) - Russian language class
12:20 (17:20) - 12:30 (17:30) - Coffee Break
12:30 (17:30) - 13:30 (18:30) - Russian language class (fourth and final class)

During the Russian language summer classes, the following components will be covered every day:

Grammar: Every day class will cover the main grammatical concepts of the modern Russian language.
Vocabulary: During the 5-10 weeks course, it is anticipated that the participants will learn around 700-2000 new Russian words.
Listening: The participants will learn Russian through songs and movies and watch and listen to the news and other short videos about interesting and funny topics and stories about Russian realities.
Speaking: Every day the Russian language classes will include role-plays to exercise speaking through discussions and conversations.
Writing: Each day, the Russian language class participants will have writing assignments and homework to complete for the next day.
Reading: Every day, students will read and discuss political texts, prose and poetry, conversations, and news. The corpus of texts to be read and discussed during the classes comprises different prominent Russian authors, daily conversations, and news of the day.

Levels:

This Russian language school is designed for participants at least 18 years old.

The summer school 2025 will have 1 or 2 groups of up to 12 participants (the ASPIRANTUM Russian language groups during the last 8 years have usually had 2-8 students). The participants must have an upper elementary, lower-intermediate, and intermediate level of Russian language knowledge before starting the classes with ASPIRANTUM. 

We can also offer beginner and advanced classes if you request so. 

Deadline:

The deadline to apply to the 5-10 weeks 2025 Russian language summer school is May 28, 2025. 

To apply, please fill in the application form below.

Deadline for discounted fee:
Discount 1: January 15, 2025 (see discount details in the “Participation fee” section below).
Discount 2: March 15, 2025 (see discount details in the “Participation fee” section below).

Participation fee:
The participation fee is:

$6690 - 10 weeks. Below, in the application form, you may also select a 5-9 week program.
$6190 - 9 weeks 
$5690 - 8 weeks
$5190 - 7 weeks
$4690 - 6 weeks
$4190 - 5 weeks

Discount 1:
If you apply and pay before January 15, 2025 the participation fee will be:
$5990 - 10 weeks
$5490 - 9 weeks
$4990 - 8 weeks 
$4490 - 7 weeks
$3990 - 6 weeks
$3490 - 5 weeks

Discount 2:
If you apply and pay before March 15, 2025 the participation fee will be:
$6190 - 10 weeks
$5690 - 9 weeks
$5190 - 8 weeks 
$4690 - 7 weeks
$4190 - 6 weeks
$3690 - 5 weeks

Dostoyevsky Scholarship

The participation fee for the 5-10 weeks Russian Language course ranges from $4190 to $6690 ($6690 - 10 weeks, $6190  - 9 weeks, $5690 - 7 weeks, $5190 - 7 weeks, $4690 - 6 weeks, $4190 - 5 weeks). The Dostoyevsky Scholarship offers a $1,500 reduction in the course fee. The student will pay $1,500 less than the original course price if awarded the Dostoyevsky Scholarship. The deadline to apply to the Dostoyevsky Scholarship is January 15, 2025. Please see the details of the Dostoyevsky Scholarship here: https://aspirantum.com/scholarships/dostoyevsky-grants-to-learn-russian

This price includes reading and writing materials, coffee breaks, welcome and farewell parties, transportation and meal costs during cultural trips, and some dinners with guest speakers.

We will not cover accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, visa costs, insurance, travel costs to, from, and in Armenia, or any costs of accompanying friends or family members.

To apply, please fill out the application form below.

Registered participants should send 100% of the participation fee online or via wire bank transfer before May 30, 2025.

Trips in Armenia
- During the ten weeks of international Russian language summer school, four trips will be organized to Armenia's most famous cultural heritage sites. On the first day, the school will start with a trip to the Garni pagan temple and Geghard Monastery. During four other weekends, the participants will have guided trips to Amberd fortress, Lake Sevan, Ejmiatsin, Tsaghkadzor, Bjni, etc. 

Accommodation in Yerevan
- Previously, our summer and winter school participants have found great accommodation deals through Airbnb. Airbnb works perfectly in Yerevan, and it is very easy to search and find a proper place. ASPIRANTUM staff is always ready to guide you and help to find the best accommodation through Airbnb. Please also check our detailed guide about how to find accommodation in Yerevan. 

Homestay
- If you'd like to arrange a homestay with a Russian-speaking family, please inform us by January 30 and complete the payment by February 15. The cost for the homestay is $220 per week.

Other Scholarships
- Several scholarships are available to participate in ASPIRANTUM’s Russian language summer school. For details on scholarships, please check our "scholarships" section.
Each summer school participant may find other sources of financial aid from their own University/School/Community or other relevant foundations.

Letter of Invitation
ASPIRANTUM will offer applicants an official invitation letter to support scholarship and travel grant applications.

For questions and inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected] or WhatsApp Dr. Khachik Gevorgyan at +374-91-557978

To apply, please fill out the application form below.

TESTIMONIALS OF 2023 RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SUMMER SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

Ecem Saricayir, PhD Student, Cornell University, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/ecem-saricayir--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023

Willem de Mol van Otterloo, Student, Cambridge University, UK - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/willem-de-mol-van-otterloo--russian-language-6-weeks-summer-school-2023

Chika Nweke, Khan Academy, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/chika-nweke--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023

Catherine Pasternack, Student, UCLA, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/catherine-pasternack--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023

Xiaochuan Yu, MA in Development Studies, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/xiaochuan-yu--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023

Eleanor Inglin, Student, University of Birmingham, UK - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/eleanor-inglin--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023

Katarzyna Swierad-Redwood, PhD Student, University of Notre Dame, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/katarzyna-swierad-redwood--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023

Annabel Baldwinson, Student, Australian National University, Australia - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/annabel-baldwinson--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023

TESTIMONIALS OF 2024 RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SUMMER SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

Auriane Benabou, PhD Student, Comparative Literature Department, New York University, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/auriane-benabou--russian-language-5-weeks-summer-school-2024

Graham Weaver, PhD Student, New York University, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/graham-weaver--russian-language-6-weeks-summer-school-2024

Maria Wooden, BA Student, Bucknell University, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/maria-wooden--russian-language-6-weeks-summer-school-2024

Nathaniel Hill, PhD Student, Government and Politics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/nathaniel-hill--russian-language-5-weeks-summer-school-2024

Dýrleif Birna Sveinsdóttir, BA Student, Faculty of Languages and Cultures, University of Iceland, Iceland - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/dyrleif-birna-sveinsdottir--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2024

To apply, please fill out the application form below.

Testimonials

  • “The summer Russian language course offered by ASPIRANTUM is by far the best experience I’ve had with a language program! From taking a taxi to chatting with strangers at a coffee shop, I had the opportunity to practice my Russian everyday outside of the class and grow my confidence in speaking as the classes progressed.”
    Auriane Benabou
    PhD Student, Comparative Literature Department, New York University, USA
  • “The syllabus, structure, and method of teaching were fantastic, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better class. Further, since so many people speak Russian in Yerevan, most of my daily interactions were in Russian, which was invaluable practice!”
    Catherine Pasternack
    Student, UCLA, USA
  • “During my four-week Russian program with Aspriantum, my vocabulary and listening comprehension greatly improved. Learning from a native Russian speaker expanded my cultural knowledge and helped me to speak more naturally.”
    Charlotte Sarchet
    Student, Russian and Central Eurasian Studies, Wittenberg University, USA
  • “This intensive program improved my language skills and provided fantastic excursions that added an entirely new dimension to my learning journey in Armenia. It was a special learning experience for me since I was in a class with peers with similar skills for the first time in my journey of learning the Russian language.”
    Ecem Saricayir
    PhD Student, Cornell University, USA
  • “The overall quality of the course was excellent—Aliona was a terrific teacher and did an admirable job accommodating students of varying proficiencies. I count her among the greatest teachers who have taught me Russian over the past seven years!”
    Graham Weaver
    PhD Student, New York University, USA
  • “This Russian Language Summer School was the most incredible experience! The classes were better than anything I have had before. Not only was I learning new things, but I was taught new ways of learning, which helped me tremendously.”
    Maria Wooden
    BA Student, Bucknell University, USA
  • “I had the wonderful opportunity to take the Aspirantum Russian language course over the summer. The course provided me with a dedicated space to immerse myself in the Russian language's vocabulary, grammar, and finer nuances.”
    Nathaniel Hill
    PhD Student, Government and Politics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
  • “What truly sets this program apart is its immersive approach. Beyond just teaching grammar and vocabulary, it immersed us in the Russian culture, enabling us to appreciate the language on a deeper level. Every aspect of the program was designed to foster a comprehensive understanding of the language and its context.”
    Xiaochuan Yu
    MA in Development Studies, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland
  • “At my university, I have been participating in taking Russian for a year. A year is a long time, 365 days, and hours and hours of Russian a day. Within three weeks at the ASPIRANTUM school, I have learned more information about the Russian language than I have in an entire year.”
    Dinara Dunham
    University of Oregon, USA
  • “Not only does the ASPIRANTUM Russian language summer course provide high-class teaching, but Yerevan is one of the best places to practice Russian. Due to my ASPIRANTUM experience, I can now confidently speak and read in Russian and carry out my Ph.D. project in the history of soviet science diplomacy.”
    Gabriela Radulescu
    PhD student, Technical University of Berlin, Germany

Teachers

Alyona Shestakova-Stukun profile image

Alyona Shestakova-Stukun

 Instructor of Russian Language

Alyona Shestakova teaches Russian and Old Slavonic in Yerevan and online in a way you love the language forever.

Course Syllabus

Intermediate Russian Syllabus

Each of our daily lessons is a comprehensive blend of listening, reading, grammar, conversation, and exercises. We place significant emphasis on listening, as understanding unadapted live speech is a crucial skill in foreign language learning. Equally, we prioritize speaking to ensure active language use. Our lessons utilize original materials, which are meticulously analyzed for vocabulary, grammar, and communicative situations. To facilitate comprehension, students are provided with preparatory materials for each class. Studying these resources in advance enables more active and effective participation during the lessons.

Learn More

Learn Russian through the Soviet and Russian Movies Syllabus

Online course “Learn Russian through the Modern Russian Movies” aims to boost the mastery of the Russian language by delving into the captivating realm of contemporary Russian cinema. Visual and auditory depth of the film helps to immerse students in genuine language usage, cultural settings and a variety of linguistic expressions common in modern Russian society. In this course students will watch six Russian movies and participate in tasks tailored to improve their listening, writing, speaking and reading skills. These tasks provide a holistic language learning experience, applying theoretical knowledge in a practical context. The purpose of the course: introduce the students to modern Russian culture and language via modern movies and thereby form relevant linguistic and cultural competence of students.

Learn More

Scholarships for Russian Language Courses

Dostoyevsky Scholarships to Learn Russian in Yerevan

ASPIRANTUM announces "Dostoyevsky Scholarships" for students in Russian Studies and relevant fields to participate in ASPIRANTUM's 5-10 weeks Russian language summer school 2025 in Yerevan, Armenia.

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After you fill in all fields and press the APPLY button you will receive an email with the copy of your application, which will confirm, that we have received your application. If you do not receive the mentioned email with the copy of your application form within 20 minutes please send an email to us at [email protected]