University-wide optional courses Languages

This Italian language course will follow a communicative-cognitive approach, meaning all educational content will be structured around specific communicative situations that occur most frequently in real life. The course is based on the modern textbook Nuovissimo Progetto italiano 1 (A1-A2), which has proven highly effective and received numerous positive reviews from teachers, students, and methodology experts. Each section will culminate in a project, allowing students to apply their acquired knowledge in practice, express creativity, work in teams, and develop public speaking skills. The 64 academic-hour duration of the course will enable students to establish a solid foundation for further Italian language study. Throughout the course, students will learn all basic grammatical tenses and build a broad, varied vocabulary, enabling them to engage in simple conversations on topics such as "Work," "My Home," "My Country," "Hobbies," "Holidays in Russia and Italy," etc. The course is designed for beginner-level students with either no prior knowledge of Italian or only basic familiarity. At the end of each section, students will present their projects and participate in 30-minute online sessions with native speakers, which will provide intercultural exposure and help overcome language barriers. Additionally, after completing section 3, each student will write a letter to a native speaker and maintain this correspondence until the end of the course and potentially beyond. A distinctive feature of this course is the incorporation of various digital assistants and AI tools, for instance, to practice speaking skills.

Workload: 64

Format: Offline 

Prerequisites: Knowledge of English is beneficial but not required.

Feedback: 

1. Oksana, grazie mille per lezioni interessanti❤️
2. Oksana Valerievna, you are a wonderfully energetic person, confident and contagiously enthusiastic. I think you perfectly embody the language you teach. Grazie mille per meravigliosi lezioni!

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.

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

In this continuation of the course, we will delve deeper into Turkish grammar. You will learn to use more complex tenses, including past and future forms, as well as conditional and subjunctive moods. We will examine different sentence types, including complex and compound sentences. Special focus will be given to studying cases and their usage in various contexts.

Vocabulary

In this section, you will expand your vocabulary by learning more specialized terminology. We will cover thematic vocabulary related to work, education, healthcare, technology, and other life domains. You'll also master idioms and expressions to make your speech more natural and expressive.

Turkish culture

The course includes deeper exploration of Turkish culture. You'll learn about significant historical events, notable figures, and their contributions to the country's development. We'll examine Turkish literature, art, and architecture, along with contemporary cultural trends. Special attention will be given to Turkish traditions and customs to help you better understand and adapt to the Turkish way of life.

Communication practice

An essential component of this advanced course is practical communication. You'll participate in discussions, role-playing activities, and other interactive exercises to improve your speaking and listening comprehension. We'll also work on enhancing your reading and writing skills using authentic materials like articles, short stories, and letters.

Final assessment

At the end of the course, you'll complete a final project consisting of either an essay or presentation on a chosen topic related to Turkey. This will help consolidate your acquired knowledge and demonstrate your progress in learning Turkish language and culture.

This course is designed for learners who already have basic Turkish knowledge and wish to advance their skills. Upon completion, you'll be able to communicate confidently in Turkish across various situations and gain a deeper understanding of Turkish culture.

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.

Prerequisites: 

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.

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

This English language course focuses on studying the book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." The program aims to develop reading, speaking, and listening skills for students at A2-B1 level. During the course, participants will work with texts, analyze key chapters, learn new vocabulary and grammar, as well as discuss plotlines and characters. Classes include watching film clips and completing interactive assignments. The course is designed for 28 academic hours (14 sessions of 90 minutes each). The program is suitable for those who want to improve their English through immersion in popular literary material.

Prerequisites: English language proficiency level: B1

Books Unlocked

Valeria Rabusova

rabusova.valeria@itmo.ru

Artem Sigaev

artemsigaev@itmo.ru

The course is designed for the students getting ready to take IELTS exam. 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

IELTS Academic Format

Feedback: 

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

Anna Stroeva

Olga Yakovleva

o_a_yakovleva@itmo.ru

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

More information you can find here Языки

Anna Silina

ealevshinova@itmo.ru

Writing is a critical life skill. We all write every day and in an increasingly virtual-based society, the written format has become a primary form of communication. The ability to write clearly, concisely, and intelligibly helps clarify and organize thoughts logically, promoting deeper analysis and understanding, and contributes to academic success. Therefore, mastery of writing develops critical thinking skills. However, to produce effective and persuasive academic texts, writing should be made a habit. So, to become better academic authors, we will start with training and improving basic writing skills. We will gain insights into the writing process, its aspects and management. The course consists of eight interactive sessions with a focus on practical  exercises designed to develop writing skills applicable to various writing tasks and contexts.

Prerequisites: English language proficiency level: B1.2 +

Inna Anokhina

iaanokhina@itmo.ru

Yulia Sazanovich

Svetlana Batko

TOEFL and IELTS are used to assess the English language proficiency of applicants to higher education. Both tests require a certain score in order to meet the entrance requirements of the chosen university. Passing these tests is not easy, but it is possible! And you can pass them with flying colours if you know what you need to do. I have been preparing students for these exams for many years, and I know exactly what you will need. TOEFL and IELTS test your knowledge considering the fact that you will be studying in a higher education institution, which means that you must be able to understand lectures and write academic essays. So even if all your answers are grammatically correct but you only use basic vocabulary, your score may still be low. On our course we will look at basic phraseology, idioms and metaphors, as well as learning the advanced grammar that examiners expect from you. The course will be useful not only for those planning to pass, but for those who generally want to improve their knowledge.

Prerequisites: English level at least B2.

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