Russian Language Program Objective

The Boston Language Institute, New England’s leading language school, offers Russian language courses to individuals and companies. The quality of instruction provided in our Russian language classes are on a par with the best native Russian language school.

Our teaching methods are individualized...even in groups. Small classes of four to twelve students assure that each student receives ample individual attention and the chance to participate actively in class. The result is a learning environment that fosters a higher level of fluency than a typical college course.

We consider it to be the major goal of our program to have students use Russian in as many real life situations as possible. Our Russian programs have been designed to develop proficiency in both the spoken and written language.

Homework, which includes cassette tapes for oral review, is an important part of our program. With an expert Russian instructor as your guide, you will learn to speak, read, write and understand Russian in a warm, relaxed atmosphere, and you will be introduced to Russian culture from the unique perspective of an educated professional.

Russian Level I
Introduces both the spoken and the written language. The course emphasizes grammar, oral expression and listening comprehension; it is designed to give beginning students a practical command of the language. Topics covered include nominative, prepositional and accusative cases, and introduction to verb conjugations and motion verbs. Upon completion of this course, you can expect to converse in simple sentences.
(Golosa, Book I, Lessons 1-5)

Russian Level II
Continues to build upon the basic foundation provided in Level I. Topics introduced include the genitive, dative and instrumental cases as well as the past and the future tenses. Upon completion, students can expect to form sentences of necessity and possibility.
(Golosa, Book I, Lessons 6-10)

RussianLevel III
Assumes the level of proficiency described above and is for those who wish to continue building their mastery of the language through the further study of expressions in dative and instrumental cases, genitive plural and accusative animate cases, conditional constructions, short form adjectives, the imperative mood and the prefixed verbs of motion.
(Golosa, Book II, Lessons 1-5)

Russian Level IV
Helps students use compound sentences, reflexive verbs, participles, the subjunctive, negative and the indefinite constructions. Additional uses of the instrumental case, prepositions of direction and location, as well as time expressions.
(Golosa, Book II, Lessons 6-10)

Russian Level V
Helps students acquire a more advanced level of grammar through a thorough review of the basic grammatical structures and learning to use them actively. Noun and adjective declensions, as well as verbal conjugations, are the basic "building blocks" of Russian grammar, and this course helps students to tie together all the elements of grammar and usage covered up to this point. The verbal aspect, another important and often difficult feature of the Russian grammar for foreign speakers, is also introduced in this course.
(V puti!, Lessons 1-6)

Russian Level VI
This course is designed for students who are already well-acquainted with basic grammatical concepts and vocabulary. The central goal of this course is to have the students communicate comfortably in Russian in a wider cultural context. Through the use of realistic situations and settings, students hone their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills further.
(V puti!, Lessons 7-12)

Conversational Russian
This is a program designed for students who already have a good command of the language. It works well for students of varying backgrounds and interests in Russian, including those who were born into a Russian-speaking family but have had no formal education in the language. Conducted entirely in Russian, the course can be tailored to fit the interests of the students. The chief aim of the course is to develop conversational skills by focusing on communication strategies, including the use of computer software and topical videos.

We also offer three Special Topiccurricula: Readings from Russian Literature; Business Russian; and International Affairs.

Text and Supplementary Materials

Since communication in a foreign language requires an understanding of the cultural context, our aim is to teach you the living language through carefully selected textbooks, newspaper and magazine articles and other relevant materials, rather than have you repeat and memorize tourist phrases.

Since 1981, we have experimented with several university-level Russian textbooks and have selected Golosa (K. Henry, J. Robin & R. Robin; Prentice-Hall), V puti! (O. Kagan & F. J. Miller; Prentice-Hall) and as the ones that best fulfill the objectives of our students from the beginning through advanced levels. Corresponding to the lessons in these books is a complete set of tapes with challenging exercises, which you may borrow for home listening from our Cassette Lending Library. A fully integrated Lab Manual/Workbook is highly recommended for independent study at home along with each volume of Golosa. Students may also take advantage of a graphical computer supplement, which has been installed on two computers in our computer lab. Books may be purchased at the Boston University Bookstore, 660 Beacon St., Boston or from our on-line bookstore specializing in foreign language textbooks, study guides and audiocassettes.

Tuition and Course Organization

Tuition for the Russian program at all levels is $499. There is a non-refundable $35 registration fee for first-time students only.

In addition to our core program, we offer a Daytime Intensive program which covers three to four semesters in eight weeks - offering the greater likelihood of actually speaking, as well as reading and writing, the language than a traditional university course. Tuition for the Daytime Intensive Program and the Group Immersion Program is $2,495.

Private Programs

Immersion Programs

The Boston Language Institute Guarantee

Because of the individualized nature of our programs and the high quality of our instruction, we guarantee your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with the quality of instruction within the first two weeks of an eight-week session, or the first week of a four-week accelerated session, we will refund your tuition in full.
Refund requests must be made no later than the business day after the second meeting of a once-a-week or the fourth meeting of a twice-a-week class of a Main Session; and no later than the business day after the first meeting of a once-a-week or the second meeting of a twice-a-week class of an Accelerated Session.

Class Schedules

We encourage students to register at least a week before the session starts, especially since classes are limited to 12 students. A Program Coordinator will be happy to take registration information by phone (617-262-3500 x241), fax or e-mail.