University-wide optional courses Languages

This elective is for those who don't just want to study Italian but want to speak it. It's for those ready to put in the effort and receive immense joy from touching the culture, traditions, and, of course, the mindset of the people of Italy. It's for those who love adventure so much they're ready to embark on a journey through Italy with us, make new friends, and experience many unique sensations. The foundational approach is communicative-cognitive, meaning each new topic is introduced through a specific real-life situation. The course is based on the modern, highly-regarded textbook Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano, which has already proven itself and received numerous positive reviews from teachers, students, and methodologies The final task for each module will be a project. This format allows students to apply their acquired knowledge in practice, showcase creativity, work in teams, and hone their public speaking skills. The elective's duration of 64 academic hours will enable students to build a solid foundation for further Italian studies. Within the course, learners will become acquainted with all major grammatical tenses and develop a broad and diverse vocabulary, ultimately allowing them to engage in conversation on almost any topic. This elective is designed for students with a basic knowledge of Italian (a solid A1 level). At the end of each module, students will present their projects and participate in 30-minute online meetings with native speakers. This not only adds an intercultural component but also helps them overcome the language barrier. A distinctive feature of the elective is the use of a wide range of digital assistants and AI tools, for instance, for practicing speaking skills.

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Feedback: 

• The course was super interesting, thank you so much!
• Oksana Valeryevna, you are an amazingly energetic person, confident and attracting with your enthusiasm. It seems to me you perfectly embody the language you teach. You are wonderful. Grazie mille per meravigliosi lezioni! (Thank you very much for the wonderful lessons!)
• Oksana, grazie mille per lezioni interessanti ❤️ 

Oksana Nakonechnaya

Oksana-adonis@yandex.ru

Welcome to the Beginner's Turkish Language Course! This course is designed for those who want to master the basics of Turkish, including grammar, vocabulary, and culture of Turkey.

Grammar

In this course, you will learn the fundamental grammatical structures of Turkish. We’ll start with the alphabet and pronunciation, then move on to essential parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. You’ll learn how to form simple sentences, ask questions, and use basic tenses. Special attention will be given to key features of Turkish grammar, including agglutination and vowel harmony.

Vocabulary

The course covers essential vocabulary for everyday communication. You’ll learn words and phrases related to greetings, shopping, food, travel, and other daily situations. We’ll also explore thematic word lists, including numbers, colors, days of the week, and months.

Culture of Turkey

Beyond language learning, this course will introduce you to Turkish culture. You’ll explore traditions, customs, and festivals, as well as significant historical and cultural landmarks. We’ll also examine Turkish cuisine, music, dance, and other cultural elements to help you better understand and appreciate the Turkish way of life.

This course is suitable for beginners and requires no prior knowledge of Turkish. By the end, you’ll be able to confidently communicate in everyday situations and gain insight into Turkey’s rich culture.

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Feedback: 

1. My sincere thanks for the knowledge, the friendly atmosphere in class, the games, and the conversations. Thanks to you, I already have great foundational knowledge and an A2 level in Turkish!
2. Turkish was a breath of fresh air among my work, and your broad approach to teaching is incredibly enjoyable! You are always available to answer students' questions and provide assistance, and I have been able to touch this beautiful language and enjoy learning it thanks to you.
3. I would like to express my gratitude for your patience, professionalism, and warmth in teaching our lessons. Your expertise has made the language more accessible and enjoyable, making learning a rewarding and exciting experience.

Ekaterina Levshinova

ealevshinova@itmo.ru

English Unplugged - Practicing and Improving English with Movies and TV Shows offers a unique opportunity to learn English by analyzing movies and TV series. Participants will be able to develop communication skills, acquire conversational vocabulary and learn idioms and expressions used by native speakers in everyday communication.

The class will analyze excerpts from well-known TV series. Analysis of dialogue and language constructions will improve the understanding of the language and enrich the vocabulary. Sessions involve interactive discussions, role-playing and other practical exercises aimed at confident use of English in a variety of contexts. The main goal of the course is to create a comfortable atmosphere for the free expression of thoughts and feelings in English.

1. The required English level is B1.2 and above; the course involves working with authentic materials and also includes a “booster” aspect, an intensive course aimed at developing speaking and listening skills. The course will be particularly useful for those who have reached a certain level but are unable to progress to the next level.

2. Interest in movies and TV series: willingness to learn a language through entertaining content.

3. Willingness to participate actively, for example, in discussions, roleplay, and practical exercises.

4. Age: 18 years and older.

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Feedback: 

1. Thank you for interesting activities, a lot of useful material and a comfortable atmosphere at the classes!!!!
2. Thank you very much to Artyom Sergeyevich and Valeria Konstantinovna for the brilliant idea of the course, its impeccable organization, and excellent conduct! Every class is always a great joy in the middle of the day!
3. Thank you very much for the varied and interesting practices - it was very good. I really became less shy to speak English and I think I pumped up my skills.

Artem Sigaev

artemsigaev@itmo.ru

Valeria Rabusova

Anna Stroeva

This English language elective is dedicated to studying the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and is aimed at developing reading, speaking, and listening skills for students at the B1 level.

Throughout the course, participants will work with the texts, analyze key chapters, learn new vocabulary and grammar, and discuss plots and characters. The classes include watching film clips and completing interactive tasks.

The course is designed for 28 academic hours (14 sessions of 90 minutes each) and is suitable for anyone wishing to improve their English through immersion in popular literary material.

Prerequisites: English level B1 and above

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Valeria Rabusova

rabusova.valeria@itmo.ru

Artem Sigaev

artemsigaev@itmo.ru

The course is designed for students preparing to take English language proficiency exams, such as B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency. This course aims to give participants knowledge about the exam structure, language skills and systems to be tested, micro-skills and successful strategies.

Prerequisites: English level B2 and above 

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Feedback: 

1. Thank you so much, it was interesting! I've gained a lot of new tools to improve my English.

Anna Stroeva

anna.stroeva@itmo.ru

Olga Yakovleva

o_a_yakovleva@itmo.ru

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More information you can find here Языки

Valeria Elyakova

valeria.v.evdokimova@gmail.com

Foreign languages are as necessary for a modern person as internet access. Why learn Spanish? First, Spanish is easy to pick up – its grammar is simpler than most languages, its pronunciation is close to Russian, and it follows clear reading rules. Second: Spanish is useful for your career. Sometimes basic knowledge is enough to stand out from other candidates.Third: learning Spanish broadens your horizons. In this course, you’ll master everyday conversations, socializing, and travel vocabulary

Anna Zernova

avzernova@itmo.ru

We invite you to continue your language journey with the German A1.2 level course! If you’ve already mastered basic phrases and confidently communicate in everyday situations, this course will help you strengthen your skills and expand your communicative horizons.

Together, we’ll dive into engaging topics such as life in your city, giving directions, everyday hotel situations, and much more. You’ll learn to talk about your wishes and plans, discuss health and illnesses, and share impressions about people’s appearance and character. Additionally, we’ll cover household chores, rules and laws, fashion, weather, and holidays.

In our course, we’ll sing songs, learn poems, work with authentic materials, and create interesting projects. German is a key to new opportunities in science, culture, and art. Join us and discover new horizons of communication! Enroll in the course and take a step toward your language success!

Prerequisites: English level B1.2  and above

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Anna Silina

avsilina@itmo.ru

About the Course

An intensive elective course (32 academic hours) designed to prepare students for major international English proficiency exams (specific exam names cannot be disclosed). The program focuses on mastering essential grammatical structures and building a robust, contemporary vocabulary — exactly what you need to pass with confidence.

What You’ll Get

— A clear, structured review of grammar: tenses, modal verbs, and complex sentence construction.

— An expanded vocabulary for both academic and everyday contexts.

— Hands-on practice with real exam-style tasks, including detailed breakdowns of common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Who It’s For

This course is ideal for students planning to take an international English exam or aiming to enhance their language skills for academic study or professional work abroad. Instruction is led by a teacher with a proven track record of preparing students for international certification.

Prerequisites: English level at least B2.

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Feedback: 

1. A very good course and excellent teaching! Without exaggeration, this was the best part of my work routine

Ekaterina Levshinova

ealevshinova@itmo.ru

This elective course is designed for ITMO University students who want to enhance their

business English while developing essential intercultural communication skills. The course

combines language learning with practical strategies for working effectively in multicultural

environments, which are crucial for success in international companies, startups, and

research projects.

What you will gain:

● Business English skills tailored to cross-cultural contexts.

● The ability to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts in international teams.

● Practice in delivering presentations, negotiations, and correspondence with foreign

partners.

● An understanding of cultural nuances that impact business processes.

Who is it for? For students aiming to work in global companies, launch international

projects, or participate in overseas internships."

Prerequisites: English Language Proficiency Level:

Not lower than B2 (Upper-Intermediate) on the CEFR scale.

The student must confidently:

• Conduct dialogues on general and professional topics.
• Understand the main ideas of complex texts (e.g., articles on business or cultural topics).
• Write coherent texts (essays, letters, reports) with a clear structure.
• Use basic business vocabulary (e.g., terms for negotiations, presentations, correspondence).

Basic Knowledge in the Field of Communication:

• Understanding the fundamentals of business etiquette (e.g., how business correspondence or presentations are structured).
• Teamwork experience (preferred but not required).

Motivation and Interest:

Desire to develop intercultural communication skills for a future career in an international environment.

Equipment:

Laptop or computer with internet access (for online classes, working with materials, and completing assignments).

Headset with a microphone (for participating in discussions, role-plays, and webinars).

Webcam (preferred, for interactive classes and presentations).

Software:

Zoom (for online sessions).

Thematic plan

Ekaterina Levshinova

ealevshinova@itmo.ru