Course

Russian language courses

From the very first group lesson an experienced teacher will help you to build your vocabulary and understand how the language works. During these lessons we will also make use of an interactive, digital environment. The course focuses on speaking and listening skills. Additional work on grammar, as well as reading and writing skills, will support you in the language learning process. Your teacher will always be a  native speaker, and the group lessons will be conducted in Russian. Instructions will only be given in Dutch or English if it’s absolutely necessary.  

After completing the third module, you will be able to communicate in Russian in everyday situations. 

Russian course modules

For available times for the courses below, please see the course dates and the registration form. The registration form shows the currently available groups.

Quick links:

'The online Russian classes and the breakoutrooms made speaking more comfortable for you, since you are in a smaller environment. Furthermore, due to the randomnised nature of breakoutrooms, I spoke with other people every lesson which was definitely improving the general atmosphere in our online group. I have had plenty of language courses in real life, but I have to say the online environment might be my favourite.'

Vince Evers | Student FASoS

Costs per course

  • UM students: € 325 per module

  • UM staff, alumni and Zuyd Hogeschool students: € 395 per module

  • All other participants: € 510 per module

Costs are exclusive course materials.

Attainment levels according to the CEFR:

  • Beginner: Russian A1 
  • Elementary: RU-A2minus
  • Elementary: RU-A2plus
  • Intermediate: RU-B1minus

Russian A1 (RU-A1)

Russian A1 is for people with no prior knowledge of Russian. Once you have completed this module, you will be able to:

  • read and write the Russian Alphabet;
  • greet people as well as introduce yourself and others;
  • ask for and provide personal details;
  • talk about your family;
  • describe your house, neighbourhood, city;
  • ask and give an opinion;
  • conduct simple discussions in present and past tenses;
  • talk about daily activities such as work or sports.

Course material

  • I Love Russian - A1 (beginner) by Linden & Denz 

    ISBN  9783907154007  o

    r as an E-book ISBN  9783907154083.

Date: The registration form shows the actual available groups.

Certificate A1: upon completion of course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

Russian A2minus (RU-A2minus)

Russian A2minus is suitable for people with basic knowledge of Russian (A1 level). Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with the teacher. After completing the second module, you will be able to:

  • conduct simple conversations about daily activities;
  • talk about food and cuisines, order a meal in a restaurant;

  • express likes and dislikes;

  • talk about the past and future plans about study, work and travels;​

  • talk about cinema, music and theater;

  • invite someone to a party, birthday, movie;

  • make a phone call and leave a message;

  • make an appointment;

  • describe the city and house you live in;

  • agree or disagree;

  • ask and give an opinion.

Course material

  • I Love Russian - A1 (beginner) by Linden & Denz ISBN  9783907154007  or as an E-book ISBN  9783907154083.

Date:  The registration form shows the actual available groups.

Certificate A2minus: upon completion of course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

Russian A2plus (RU-A2plus)

Russian A2plus is suitable for people with basic knowledge of Russian (A2- level). Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with the teacher. After completing the third module, you will be able to:

  • engage in conversations about daily activities and interests;
  • talk about holidays and traditions in different countries;

  • talk about clothes and get around in the shops;
  • discuss the weather;
  • talk about families and relationships;
  • get around in the shops;

        

  • ask the way and give directions;

  • tell how you spent holidays, discuss travel plans;

  • ask for information and make a hotel reservation;

  • compare different types of houses, discuss plusses and minuses, rent a house;

  • talk about habits, discuss what a healthy lifestyle is, give advice;

  • talk about the future, short- and long-term plans;

  • engage in a discussion, express your point of view, agree or disagree with others.

Course material

  • I Love Russian - A2 Coursebook (second edition) by Linden & Denz   ISBN  9783907154236  or as an E-book ISBN  9783907154243.

Date:  The registration form shows the actual available groups.

Certificate A2plus: upon completion of course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

Russian B1minus (RU-B1min)

Russian B1minus is suitable for people with intermediate knowledge of Russian (A2+ level). Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with the teacher. After completing the fourth module, you will be able to:

  • prepare and participate in discussions ;
  • give presentations about a current topic;
  • talk about advantages and disadvantages, make comparisons;
  • express your feelings and your wishes;
  • share your opinion, express agreement and disagreement;
  • talk about daily routine, habits, discuss what a healthy lifestyle is, give an advice;
  • talk about the future, short- and longterm plans, discuss how technology changes our life;
  • talk about travelling, buy tickets, make reservations, get around at the train station or airport;
  • describe and compare the appearances of people, dress style, traces of character, give a compliment;
  • talk about heath, visit to a doctor, describe symptoms, talk about active life style.

Course material

  • I Love Russian - A2 Coursebook (second edition) by Linden & Denz ISBN  9783907154236  or as an E-book ISBN  9783907154243.

Date:  The registration form shows the actual available groups.

Certificate B1minus: upon completion of course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

Registration and intake

You can register to a course by using our registration form. After registering, you will receive a confirmation.

If you already have some knowledge of the language and would like to join a non-beginners group then you can email Sonia Bourdonskaia to make an appointment, free of charge. The appointment will take place at the Maastricht University Language Centre or online.

Book an intake well before the course is scheduled to begin. This process will make it easier to make the appointment, and more likely that there will still be an available spot in the module that’s right for you.

Costs per course

  • UM students: € 325 per module

  • UM staff, alumni and Zuyd Hogeschool students: € 395 per module

  • All other participants: € 510 per module

Certificate and ECTS credits

After successfully completing a course, you will receive a certificate. To be eligible for a certificate, you must attend at least 12 of the 14 lessons, be present at the final exam and have satisfactory results. One course is worth 3 ECTS credits. Whether these credits are acknowledged depends on your faculty. Please consult with your faculty / home university if these credits will be accepted as part of your programme.