Our Teachers
our greatest asset
RLC’s teachers have the qualifications and experience you would expect: native speakers, educated to post-graduate level with at least a first degree in Russian or foreign language teaching; experience in teaching adults.
And we look for more than just qualifications and knowledge of the subject. Our teachers appreciate that learning Russian can be a daunting prospect, and that our students need to fit language study into the rest of their lives. So we look for teachers who can inspire confidence and commitment – who make their students want to learn more; and teachers who always remember that if a lesson isn’t fun, then no one will want to attend it.
Nowadays, with so much of our work being done online, our teachers have learnt to make the most of the opportunities that online technology offers. More than that, they know how to recreate the atmosphere of an in-person lesson, enabling our online students to experience the excitement and pleasure of communicating in a foreign language.
Finally, we look for teachers who are ready to work as a team. RLC is not an agency, or simply a network of freelance teachers. This means our teachers work together, developing materials and learning from each other’s ideas and expertise.
From the beginning, the teachers have been motivational and invested in their students’ success, giving them confidence to improve. What began as a spontaneous decision to try something new slowly became a serious hobby and then a passion. After two years of continuous study at the RLC it has now become a huge part of my life and I seek out opportunities for Russian cultural immersion whenever possible. I cannot imagine a similar result without the help and encouragement of the RLC, its amazing teachers, administration, and fellow students.
A selection of our teachers have told us why they love teaching, and what keeps them teaching here at RLC.
RLC is one of a very few places in London where Russian language meets Russian culture – a place where one wants to speak Russian and no other language and has plenty of opportunities to do so.
Irina
There are few things that are as satisfying as seeing the results of a good lesson. It makes me sing – only to myself, of course – the famous words of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady: ‘I think she’s (he’s, they’ve) got it!’ And when this happens it makes my day, or sometimes my week.
Vera C
I enjoy teaching at RLC because the emphasis is placed on content and results and not on bureaucracy. I particularly like to see how learning the Russian language changes my students’ attitude towards Russia and its people. I find it a very healthy exchange of opinions – because I learn a lot from my students as well.
Natasha
Learning Russian language is an open-ended challenge, but it is a never-ending challenge to teach Russian too!
Lena
I love teaching Russian because it’s very rewarding to see how students start mastering little by little this challenging language. In addition, it’s very gratifying to deal with people who are interested in my culture and language since there is so much to tell and to discuss.
Valeria
What I love most about teaching Russian is the fact that I can help my students to talk to people’s hearts, to understand the Russian-speaking community and to be understood by them.
Viktoria
I truly enjoy the best of both worlds teaching with RLC. The school’s strong programme and learning material is a great basis to plan lessons, while simultaneously enjoying flexibility and the freedom to use my own creativity as an experienced teacher.
Olga
And when it’s their turn to be creative, students write stories and dialogues and sometimes they are so good that everybody enjoys listening to them, they are also very funny, and laughter is the best part of a great lesson.
Liliya
It is incredibly fulfilling to know that Russian classes will open doors for students into Eastern European literature, music and cinema, and will empower them to communicate with new people from different walks of life. It’s like helping students acquire a little superpower!
Katya
For me, the best part of working at RLC is the students. I am lucky to have met so many amazing people and to have had the chance to help them develop their Russian language skills. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing their progress and being proud of what they have achieved!
Larissa