Teachers and Methodology

Teaching Staff

All the teaching staff in Language Link's Russian as a Foreign Language Departments is highly trained Russian language specialists with considerable experience and post-graduate degrees. Our teacher selection process is rigorous: apart from possessing post-graduate qualifications in teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, all teachers must have taught at university level, and preferably abroad. All teachers must be able to speak at least one or two other major European languages. And finally, excellent references must be presented from both former educational employers and former students. Given these standards of selection, there is little doubt that Language Link's teachers are among the finest in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd and Samara.

Even after teachers have been selected for employment with Language Link, they continually upgrade their teaching skills by regularly attending workshops, seminars and conferences. Their classroom performance is periodically observed by Elena Kallo, Language Link's Head Teacher.

Methodology

Mikhail Bakhtin, the famous Russian philosopher, calls language a "contradictory multiplicity" because of its many seemingly contradictory aspects. Grammar and linguistics focus on single units or parts of language whereas the study of stylistics and pragmatics focus on how language is used as a whole in "real life." How, then, should we study foreign languages? There is one common unifying factor that we can focus on. Language, although a dynamic entity with many different aspects, has one practical goal - COMMUNICATION.

All Language Link teachers come to the classroom with this practical view! Communicative language teaching helps the student to not only understand the language but also to use it in authentic, "real" situations. This objective requires a focus on all the aspects of language - grammar, pragmatics, stylistics, pronunciation, etc. - with the goal of authentic communication.

Teacher Profiles

Elena Kallo

Elena Mikhailovna Kallo graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU) philological department with a degree in Russian language and literature, specializing in Russian as a Foreign Language. Elena did her post-graduate studies at the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Federation Academy of Sciences in the area of psycholinguistics. She has extensive teaching experience in Russia and at universities in France, Finland, Great Britain and Austria. She is currently director of academic programmes at Language Link, and director of the special programmes 'Dickinson in Moscow', 'RLUS' and 'Goucher Summer Immersion Programme'. Elena is one of the best specialists in teaching Russian culture and literature to foreigners. Her lectures on Russian poetry of the 19th and 20th centuries and literature of the Silver Age were brilliantly received in the U.S. (at Dickinson College) and are always very popular among students. Elena's classes combine the depth and originality of her own unique approach with the methodology of creative student involvement in order to clearly convey the key concepts of the course. Material is drawn from a wide variety of historical and cultural resources. After completing a course with Elena Mikhailovna, students generally have a real interest in Russian culture and some even begin to write their own poems and essays.

Ludmila Loifer

Ludmila Loifer graduated from the Moscow State University with an MA Degree in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language and Literature. In addition to ten years' experience teaching Russian both at home and abroad, Ludmila has extensive experience as a Franco-Russian interpreter as well as an editor of scientific works. She has successfully worked for the Russian Language Centre at Moscow State University, the Russian Institute of Social Sciences, and the UNESCO Gorbachev Fund, and taught at prominent companies such as "Alpha Bank" and "Nestle Water Coolers". Ms. Loifer is a highly rated teacher of all levels from beginner to advanced, and holds a specialization in teaching business Russian language courses.

Ludmila Nezvankina

Ludmila Nezvankina graduated from the Moscow State University with a Master's Degree and a specialization in teaching Russian as a Foreign Language and Literature. With over twenty years of international experience, Ludmila has successfully taught Russian to American, British, German, Italian, Japanese and Finnish students. She is also one of the Literary Encyclopaedia authors. For three years, Ms. Nezvankina held a professorship at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania where she taught both Russian and Russian Literature. For several years after her return to Moscow, Ludmila was head of Moscow's semester program for students from both Tufts University and Dickinson College. In the classroom, Ludmila teaches Russian using a methodology that combines the communicative approach to language teaching and the study of Russian culture. Her students range in language proficiency from complete beginners to professional philologists. Ludmila teaches such courses as Conversational and Business Russian, special courses on Russian Literature, the History of Russian Language and Language of Mass Media.

Marina Freidina

Marina Freidina graduated from the Maimonides State Jewish Academy in Moscow with a specialization in teaching Russian and Hebrew languages. She also completed further education in cultural studies at the centre for tourist personnel training as a Moscow city guide. She has worked as a Russian language teacher and a seminar coordinator at Davidson College (US). While teaching, she also completed a course in written and spoken English. For the last few years she has taught at Language Link, working with students from all over the world, successfully combining language courses with cultural aspects in her classes.

Olga Kovtun

Olga graduated from the fine arts division of the MGU history department, and specialises in Russian as a Foreign Language. She is fluent in German and Italian, and has a good grounding in English. In addition, Olga has completed Florensky courses specialising in teaching and psychology. Over the course of many years she has worked with students from various European countries, both adults and children. A distinctive feature of Olga's teaching is the use of games as part of the communicative method of language learning, thus making her lessons interesting, unusual, fun and effective. At present she works with students taking semester-long academic programmes (Conversational, and a course in Russian cinematography), and also for the companies "Transcea" and "Daimler Kraisler".

Aislou van Rhujn

Aislou completed a degree in Russian as a Foreign Language at MGU. She works with students of various levels of Russian language ability in the international centre of Russian language (an MGU partner school). She successfully teaches courses of intensive study. Her fluent knowledge of German allows Aislou to work especially well with students from Germany. During her lessons she uses her own method of "psychological synchronism." Using this method, students gain self-confidence and work much more efficiently and energetically, and show great results. In 2003 Aislou gave an excellent talk at an international conference of Slavic studies at Humboldt University in Berlin.

Elena Ivanova

Elena graduated from the Moscow State Pedagogical University philology department with a degree in teaching Russian language and literature, and a foreign language (English), and also specialises in Russian as a Foreign Language. She is fluent in English, and has worked with great success with students of various levels. At present Elena is working in one of the best departments of Russian for foreign students in Moscow, at MADI, and is pursuing post-graduate studies. In her lessons Elena combines professionalism with a creative approach; she 'liberates' her students, building a friendly atmosphere in class. Her lessons are always interesting and fun. Elena has successfully worked in companies such as "Perekryostok", Input-Output, "Russian Standard" and "Moscow Teleport", and also with students from England and the USA on semester-long academic programmes.

Elena Nikolenko

Elena graduated from the philological department at MGU with a degree in Russian language and literature. She has a PHD in pedagogy and psychology, and her dissertation was on teaching methodology for Russian as a Foreign Language. For more than 15 years Elena has worked with great success at Moscow University, and also in Finland, Great Britain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey. Every year Elena gives lectures on RFL teaching methodology for teachers, who specialize in Russian philology from Finland, Austria and Japan. She has created her own unique methodology for teaching Russian to foreigners. Elena has authored and co-authored numerous articles on the "effective intensive" method of RFL teaching. This method was created in conjunction with Galina Levina and incorporates a number of study aids, textbooks, and educational videos, such as "Zolotoe Koltso", "Vladimir 1 and 2", and the film "Chashki".

Elena Aisakova

Elena graduated from the Moscow State Pedagogical University philological department with a degree in Russian language and literature, and then did post-graduate studies in the department of modern Russian. Her area of academic interest is sociolinguistics. Elena studied in the department of upgrading qualifications at the Russian People's Friendship University. She has worked as a teacher of Russian at Dickinson College (USA) and in the Russian department at the Russian State Academy of Physical Education. At present she teaches sociolinguistics at the Institute of cultural studies, and Russian language at RGGU's RFL Centre. At Language Link Elena works with students from various countries on semester-long academic programmes.

Anna Kosaurova Anna Kosaurova graduated from the Moscow State University of Linguistics specialised as a Linguist-Teacher and also specialised in Russian as a foreign language. Anna taught at the linguistics university and now she works in our centre. She teaches in companies where she has proved herself to be an excellent teacher (see the Comments page on our website), she works on intensive programmes and teaches a course on translation in the RLUS programme for British students. Anna speaks fluent French and English and has worked as a translator. Her professional interests are the special features of translating from English and French to Russian and backward duplication of spoken language. Anna loves reading Russian classical literature such as Pushkin, Bunina, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. She is interested in the history of ancient Russian cities and also loves to travel.

Evgeniya Stremova Evgeniya Stremova graduated from the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute and now works there as well as in our centre. She is currently studying a postgraduate degree at the Pushkin Institute. Evgeniya is very fond of the theatre and takes part in the organisation of student theatres. She manages the Armiya Iskusstv theatre studio at the Pushkin Institute. The most recent studio premiere was Mayakovsky's The 13th Apostle. Evgeniya works with students of various levels, both beginners and advanced philology students from Turkey, Hungary, France and Britain. She is now giving effective spoken language classes for British students on the RLUS programme.

Natasha Makarova Natasha Makarova graduated from the faculty of theoretical and applied linguistics at the Russian State University for the Humanities and now works in the People's Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) and in Language Link. She works with students of various levels. Natasha has profound knowledge of grammar and teaches grammar with enthusiasm at any stage of language learning. She is currently teaching grammar to students from various British universities. Natasha speaks fluent German and English and has translated several books on biographical prose from English. At the moment she is studying for a postgraduate degree. Natasha enjoys the theatre and the cinema. She knows much about history, especially the history of Moscow and loves to take long walks around historical Moscow.

Ekaterina Chinkova

Ekaterina graduated from the Samara State University (philological faculty) with a specialization in English as a Foreign Language, and specializes in Russian as a Foreign Language. She completed a special course at People's Friendship University (Moscow), and has a certificate in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language from the Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language (Moscow). Ekaterina is fluent in English, and has worked with great success with students from different countries. She has a good experience in teaching students at all levels, from beginner to advanced. A distinctive feature of Ekaterina's teaching is the communicative method, which makes her lessons very dynamic and interesting.

Anastasia Berezina

Anastasia Berezina graduated from the Samara Academy of Humanities in 2002 (philosophical-philological faculty) with a specialization in teaching English and German as Foreign Languages. She also studied at the Institute of Cultural Programs (St. Petersburg) and completed the course "Methodology of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language". She also has a certificate in Russian as a Foreign Language from People's Friendship University (Moscow). Anastasia presently takes additional course of Methodology at the Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language (Moscow). She is fluent in English and has a good grounding in German. Anastasia has worked with success with students of various levels from Europe and the USA. She has successfully taught at companies such as Alcoa, Societe Generale, Petrofac, Holiday Inn Hotels.

Olesya Harina

Olesya attended the Moscow State Pedagogical University and gained a postgraduate degree. Her thesis was on the work of F.M. Dostoevsky. She is a Candidate of Philological Science and is also a specialist in the teaching of Russian as a foreign language at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. After defending her thesis Olesya taught phonetics and social linguistics at a pedagogical university. Since 2008 she has worked at Language Link both with individual students and groups. She has worked very successfully for the RLUS Program (for British students studying Russian) and gives courses on the language of history and reading comprehension. Olesya is interested in the link between language and culture, psychology and the history of language. Olesya speaks English and French, does Yoga, and is very keen on music, both classical and modern. She loves jazz, rock and ethnic music.

Gulnara Pervushina

Gulnara has worked at Language Link since 2007. She graduated from a university in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, where she specialized in philology, and taught Russian to foreign students. She has worked with students from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Turkey and Japan, has given courses in grammar, country-specific studies and writing, and has also managed the coursework and diploma work of foreign students. In 2003-4 she taught Russian at Durham University in Great Britain. Gulya gained work experience in the Russian University of People's Friendship and at a St. Petersburg University. She is also involved in the world of science where she publishes articles on historical lexicology and collaborates with various scientific journals. Gulnara is one of our few teachers who have a certificate for testing foreign students studying Russian according to the Russian state system of testing. Gulnara is particularly interested in comparative and contrastive analysis of cultures and the country-specific aspect of studying the Russian language. In her lessons she always pays special attention to the Russian culture and traditions, as well as the ongoing changes to them. In her free time Gulya loves going to the theatre and reading classic and modern literature.