The Team

 

The teacher is central to quality education. At Russia Academy all training is conducted by a team of qualified and experienced teachers. They create an atmosphere that ensures optimal results and maximum pleasure in learning. Our teachers use many tools that are available in and out of the classroom, in order to deliver effective and enjoyable language training.

 

Our teachers have extensive experience in developing and conducting training courses for business enterprises and governmental bodies, as well as experience of teaching at universities and in schools.

 

At Russia Academy we deliver a customised product, which can be tailored both to individual students and to groups. This contributes enormously to our students' excellent results.

 

 

 

 

 

Olja Karmanova is a qualified teacher of Russian, educated at the University of Amsterdam, and a Russian native speaker. Olja was born in Moscow. Since 2002 she has been running Russian language training for professionals from a large number of different countries. Olja is a teacher who invests passion in her work.

 

 

Karel Onwijn is historian and publicist. Since 1989 he has lived and worked for extended periods of time in the countries of the former Soviet Union. For eight years he was an FSU correspondent for the Dutch and Belgian press. Additionally, Karel conducts intercultural training on the FSU for expats, and lectures at several universities. He also acts as a guide for study visits and has published several books on the FSU, including "Standplaats Moskou" and the "Dominicus Travel Guide".

 

 

Monique van Schandevyl is a qualified teacher and certified translator of Russian. She has been a practising liguist at different levels for several decades. Besides taking corporate and legal assignments, Monique still enjoys guiding beginners in their first encounter with the Russian language. Her love and enthusiasm for teaching Russian are contagious.

 

 

Locations

 

Our students nearly always have a preference for in-company training. However, sometimes it is advantageous for our customised intensive programmes to be delivered at an outside location. We can provide training at a place and time to suit you.

 

 

 

Clients

 

- The Van Drie Group
- The Russian, Slovenian, Khazakhstan and Georgian Embassies
- The Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Economic Affairs, Finance and Defence.
- ESA - The European Space Agency
- Dutch Space (formerly Fokker Space)
- Bronswerk Heat Transfer BV
- Van Oord Dredging
- Nauta Dutilh

 

 

Testimonials

 

"The course had a very good balance between grammar, reading and conversation. Olga, Galina and Esther communicated the materials effectively. Their visible enthusiasm carried over and motivated. The course was well atuned to my specific wishes. I can wholeheartedly recommend Russia Academy to anyone who wishes to master Russian in an efficient and pleasant way." (A1-student, Fortis)

"Precisely the alternation between native-speaking and Dutch backgrounds worked well and made an athentic Russian perspective possible (pronunciation, nuances, etc,) but also responses to questions from a Dutch grammatical angle. The teachers complement each other well. This way, all sorts of elements were presented and I felt challenged in different ways to engage with the course material." (B1-student, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"As I had no knowledge at all of Russian, I needed the basics (script, grammar, vocabulary.) This was fully accomplished in about 25 lessons. It has been very useful to me and it has been a pleasure to do. From a complete illiterate I have become a beginnng reader and speaker." (A1-student, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"I found Galya ... a truly fascinating and inspiring teacher. In Russian language lessons I have had many highly qualified teachers, but she indeed scores very highly amongst them in terms of knowledge, didactics and enthusiasm." (B2-student, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"Ms Van Loo tunes her teaching methods very well to the individual student." (Departure Training, Deputy Ambassador to Kazachstan)

... "that we are very pleased with the courses. She has given us a firm foundation in the language. Specifically I am able to name Esther van Loo: a very capable and pleasant trainer, with an excellent feel for the learning needs of the student. I can recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone who wishes to learn Russian, she is worth her weight in gold." (Intensive Departure Training, Ambassador to Kazachstan)

"To me it was a revelation that after a few lessons one can read a number of basic things and therefore feel more self-assured in Ukraine. In can read a little and manage to at least be polite. I had very pleasant contact with Olja and she has responded with great flexibility to my complicated timetable." (A1, Director SC Johnson) 

 

"Olga Karmanova has given intensive training courses in Russian to me at intermittent intervals over the past 2 years. I have found her methods and her material excellent as well as her preparation for each session. Based on her effort I have made very satisfactory progress." (A2-student European Space Agency)

"I liked a lot the balance that Olja maintained during her lessons between conversation sessions, grammar exercises, audio exercises, reading of texts and recreational games. The course was never scholar and Olja made several personal deviations from the books. The subjects of lessons were also always attractive and well chosen between on going events in Russia or in the world, way of life in Russia, discovery of Russian country and people, how to deal with everyday situations." (B1-student European Space Agency)

"I found the contents and presentation of the course material to be excellent. Occasional omissions in the textbook were well compensated for by means of hand-outs which were written especially for us. I now have a firm basic knowledge of Russian grammar and can read, write and speak at an elementary level. Many thanks to Olja, Esther and Galya!" (A2-student, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"The content of the course was very good. A good balance between the standard books and the extra materials. My hopes for the first course were that when I would reach Russia I would at least be able to read the signs and ask simple questions. This has come more than true. I have experienced the training as very pleasant. To me it is an additional reason to broaden my knowledge of the country, the people and the language." (A1-student Dutch Space)

"I found the beginners' course Olja has taught us to be very good; in particular the role play and additional exercise material that complements the book. I can now manage well in Moscow, ask the way, order food, ask how much things cost, what time it is, when the metro operates, chat with a Russian colleague; really all the primary needs for a traveller." (A1-student Dutch Space)

 

 

 

Welcome to Russia Academy

 

Russia Academy specialises in Russian language training.

 

We have many years of experience conducting Russian language training for government bodies and corporations. As well as our regularly scheduled training programmes, we also offer personalised intensive courses. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and occupy diverse positions within all branches of government and areas of business. The language level or our students varies from absolute beginner to very advanced.

 

Additionally, we organise training programmes and seminars on economic, business, political, social, historical and cultural themes.

 

Our extensive network provides you with the opportunity to take a first step towards success in your activities in Russia!

 

 

About us

 

We specialise in training programmes for the business market, in particular for professionals who need the Russian language and an understanding of Russian customs for their work. Our programmes are tailored to the needs of individual students or to the requirements of particular groups.

 

We supply a customised product: each training programme is developed in accordance with the specific needs and wishes of the client. Our lessons are planned to follow on seamlessly from the student's prior language level, and to link in with his or her background and needs. The speed of progress is adjusted, depending on the time commitment the client is able to make.