Did you ever think that it is possible to learn Russian language with high-qualified teachers out-of-charge?
“Enjoy Russian” gives you an opportunity to learn Russian in Russia for free! For step by step information of getting a scholarship in summer 2012 click here.
Our students live with Russian host families. This is the best way to improve your Russian, to practice the language, to learn the Russian way of life, and just to live like a real Russian.
We carefully select all our families. Before the program they take part in the training program. We cooperate with more than 50 families. Here you can read the information about some of our families:
Surname:Cherneckie
Parents: Elena 47 years old, teacher; Valeriy 49 years old; grandmother Nelly Andreevna 70 years old, retired. Their children: Masha 25 years old; Tolya 23 years old. Their interests: This family prefers to spend time together. They are fond of walking, picnics, travelling, going to the cinema,and the theatre. Pets:Persik, a nice cat, is living in the family, he is 12 years old! The area of living: In an area named Drevlyanka, 20 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Hello everybody! We are happy to receive guests in our family, to learn more about their countries, and to help them discover Russia!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Ruloff (the Netherlands), Maike (Germany), Marek (Poland), Sean (Ireland), David (Ireland), Lenka (Czech Republic), Alzbeta (Czech Republic), Katarina (Croatia), Joke (Belgium), Martin and Anna (Poland), Anke (Germany), Anouk (Belgium), Sophie (UK), Nichola (UK), Elizabeth (UK), Michael (Germany), Therese (Ireland), Christian (Austria), Silvia (Austria), Peter (Austria), Anke (Germany), James Brown (UK), Haydee (the USA), Agia (Belgium), Easter (Switzerland), Chiara (Italy), Audrey (Switzerland) and Daniel (UK).
What the students say about this family:
“Excellent living conditions”
“They were very hospitable and I enjoyed spending time with them.”
“They are the main reason I would like stay in Petrozavodsk longer.”
“The family we are staying with is absolutely lovely. They can’t possibly be more lovely, friendly, welcoming, and helpful.”
“My family is fantastic! Really kind and welcoming. I can’t compliment them enough.”
“The family is great! I am lucky to live in such a nice family!”
“I can’t complain – I felt very welcome, had my freedom and the opportunity to ask questions and learn about Russia.”
“My family was very pleasant.”
“Lena is a very good teacher. I don’t understand Russian very well, but Lena I understood very well!”
“Excellent! I think that my host family did a very good job. I felt very comfortable there.”
“Very nice family. I want to return.”
“Comfortable room, family were always friendly.”
“The host family tried to make me feel at home”.
Surname:Ivanovy
Parents: Valentina Nikolaevna, 43 years old, works in a hospital Her children: Son Nikita - 16 years old, a schoolboy. Their interests: Mother and son like to spend time outside every weekend.
Pets: None
The area of living: The city centre
A short message from the family: Hello to our future guests! We are glad to welcome you to our family. The doors of our house are always open to everybody and not only to foreign guests! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students: Pavlina (Czech Republic), Roger (the USA), Evan (the USA), Alix (France), Bas (the Netherlands), Nele (Belgium), Suvi (Finland), Kristian (Denmark), Heluis (Ireland), Martina (Austria) and Neil (Scotland). What the students say about this family:
“Excellent living conditions. I like my family”;
“The family was very kind, they were able to communicate with us even though I did not know much Russian and they did not know any English”;
“My host family was very friendly and does everything to make me enjoy my stay, very attentive to all my needs. The flat is very nice -clear and quiet”;
“I have no complaints about my host family, staying here was ok’”.
Surname:Gokkoevy
Parents: Inna Nikovaevna 61 years old, she used to work as an engineer and as a teacher. Now Inna is pensioner.
Her children: Inna has 2 sons who live in Finland.
Pets: None
Their interests: She is interested in learning foreign languages - English and Finnish. Also she is fond of fancywork, literature, especially poetry.
The area of living: The city centre (close to our Russian language school).
A short message from the family: Hello everyone who is interested in the Russian culture. For me the most interesting things are: communication with you, your culture and outlook. The view from my window will charm you: OnegoLake, the city, the picturesque landscape. With my guests we visit various events, go to the nearby cities and towns, and go to my relatives and friends.
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Joan (Finland), Sanna (Finland), Katarina (Slovakia), Andrew (the USA), Stephen (Scotland), Edita, Ivana and Romana (Croatia), Pirjo, Eija, Anu and Tuula (Finland), Ainomarja, Pirjo (Finland), Panayiotis (UK), Valerie (Italy), Kroot (Estonia).
What the students say about this family:
“I was very fortunate and stayed with a warm, generous hostess nearby the school”;
“Our host mother was great. She was very helpful, I felt very free to communicate with her. I hope she will visit Paris!”
“The lady was great. She is very interesting, active, and sociable”;
“The apartment was very convenient. I am very grateful to my host lady’s hospitality”;
“My host is the greatest I could ever have. Food - excellent, room - excellent, company - excellent”
“I had excellent living conditions. Sad to leave – my host family was very nice and we did lots of things together.”
"Lady – Inna, who was my host, was just super. She was always very helpful, very happy, kind and active. She helped us a lot to manage and enjoy life in Petrozavodsk."
Surname:Procopic
Mother:Iraida, 35 years old, she is a businesswoman
Her daughter:Nika, 15 years old, Nika is a schoolgirl
Their interests: Nika is interested in J-Rockand anime, she is learning to play guitar, corresponding with a girl from Japan. Nika dreams a girl from Japan to came to us!
Pets: We have a tortoise and fish, and lots of flowers!
The area of living:The area named Golikovka, it is near the city centre, in a 14-floor building, from windows of our 6-floor all guests admire the panorama of the city and the beautiful OnegoLake.
A short message from the family: Students come not only to study the Russian language atSchool but also to spend much time with their host family. When we have free time, we show our students our city, and also go to the countryside to visit our grandmother. Everybody likes to have a rest in the countryside, because because of the beautiful Karelian nature! We invite everybody to come to us and have a good time in Russia!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2005
During this time they received the following students: Joanna (Poland), Ankie (the Netherlands), Kevin (UK), Rachel (Ireland), Sarre (Belgium), Holly (UK), Sasha and Emma (the USA), Justyna (Poland), Leena (Finland) and Tilde (Belgium), Anna (Germany), Georgia (England), Hanna (Finland) and Marcella (the Netherlands).
What the students say about this family:
“Excellent! Fantastic!”
“My host family is probably the best one in the whole program! Everything was excellent!”
“Very hospitable family and excellent food”;
“Iraida is very kind and tolerant! Her food was delicious and it was interesting to see how Russian people live”;
“I was very free, I could do what I wanted to do and I liked that. I had a very comfortable room and bed”;
“My family was just excellent!”
“I liked the family I stayed with, they helped me a lot. And I think that when they started to trust me they were very friendly :)”
Surname:Pavlovy
Parents: Ludmila 47 years old, a doctor; Andrej 50 years old, an engineer. Their children: Son Stepan 22 years old and daughter Masha 21 years old. Their interests: Parents are fond of gardening, Stepan is interested in computers and Masha likes to travel, to meet new people and communicate with them. Pets: fish The area of living: The area named Kukkovka, 15 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Come to Russia and break up your stereotypes! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students: Marie-Laure (Belgium), Andjela (Switzerland) and Jasmina (Slovenia)
What the students say about this family:
“My family was absolutely FANTASTIC! I wish I would stay in contact with them!”
“I like my family very much. I think I learn most of Russian from them. They are very nice and friendly”;
“Living conditions were excellent!”
Surname: Uspehovy
Parents: Marina, 49 years old, she is now a pensioner; Valeriy, 52 years old, works in the company of manufactures sports equipment.
Their children: The eldest son lives with his wife Anna and our grandson Slava apart from us, but they visit us very often. The youngest daughter Julia, 21 years old and son Denis, 25 years live with us.
Their interests: Denis enjoys taking pictures and likes to communicate with people, because he is very sociable. Julia has no time for any hobby because she is a student and need to do lots of homework. Julia and Denis dream to learn English because they have a lot of friends in Europe. We dream about traveling around the world, and we hope that this dream will come true soon. Marina likes to do water aerobic, cook, and experiment with different dishes, baking cakes, éclairs, etc. All the family likes to go at the countryside in the summer. We are very friendly and happy family!
Pets: None
The area of living: The area named Kluchevaja, 25-30 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus.
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2009
During this time they received the following students: Anna (Switzerland), Judith (Switzerland), Katharina (Austria), Ingrid (Austria), Anna-Maria (Estonia).
What the students say about this family:
“I had a great family! They talked a lot with me. We have done a lot of interesting things together! I woul recommend this family!”
“My living conditions were excellent. I think, I got the best family! They took very good care of me. They went with me to the äà÷à. I feel like at home here. There is a very good mood in this family!!!”
Surname: Sazonovy
Mother: Galina, 56 years old
Her daughter: Irina, 24 years old.
Their interests: Galina likes reading, knitting, walking, and gardening at the dacha. She is friendly, dreamy, gentle, caring, loves to learn something new, unusual, always glad to communicate with representatives of different cultures. In her free time Galina likes to rest in the countryside, meet her friends and family, play different sport games. Irina is fond of traveling, foreign languages, intercultural communication, art, music, and swimming. She is inquisitive, friendly, active, and purposeful. Irina dreams about reams a world tour.
Pets: None
The area of living: The area named Octyabrskij prospect, 25 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus.
A short message from the family: Dear friends, We invite you to learn Russian in Petrozavodsk, where you can enjoy this wonderful Russian city, our nature, forests and lakes. You will enjoy the hospitality of Russians and your host family. We hope your stay here captures in your mind for a long time and you will gain new friends here and they will get the necessary language skills! We are waiting for you!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students: Naomi (Finland), Mira (Belgium), Seraina (Switzerland), Pavol (Slovakia)
What the students say about this family:
“My family was awesome and they taught me really good.”
Surname: Appolonovy
Parents:Vladimir, 50 years old, businessman, working in the field of spare parts for motorcars,speaks German. He likes to travel by car. Natalia, 48 years old, leading specialist of the Ministry of Education of Karelia Republic, speaks English.
Their children: Sophia, 24 years old, manager in a private company. She is living apart from her parents. Polina, 16 years old, she is a schoolgirl, learns Finish and English.
The area of living: The area named Octyabrsky prospect, it is 10 minutes to the city centre.
A short message from the family: We are always glad to meet new guest from all over the world!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2009
During this time they received the following students: Paullina (Finland), Courtney (the USA), and Janna (Finland).
What the students say about this family:
“Excellent living conditions: nice family, good food. For the beginner it was good to live in a family who speak English and Finnish.”
Surname: Timofeevy
Family: a young lady Liza, 30 years old.
Her interests: Liza has a very interesting job for a woman, she works in the sphere of professional cosmetics and knows how to look at 100%! :) At university she studied German and English, so she is also working as a German teacher at the Center “Initiative.” Liza prefers to spend free time away from home. She loves traveling or just walking along the streets, listening to loud music, meeting and chating with her friends, taking pictures, playing tennis and volleyball.
Pets: None
The area of living: The area named Drevlyanka, 20 minutes to the city centre by regular bus.
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2010
During this time she received the following students: Anna-Lena (Switzerland), Veronika (Croatia), Helene (Germany), and Miranda (the USA).
What the students say about this family:
“My living conditions were excellent. My family here, Liza and her mother are very nice and friendly hosts. They take me out a lot and we spend lots of time together.”
Surname:Serebryakovy
Parents: Tatyana 56, an English teacher, Sergej 56 years old. Their children: They have a son Andrej 24 years old, he lives apart from his parents Their interests: Tatyana is fond of reading, knitting, but the most important thing for her is meeting people and communicating with them. Pets: A parrot The area of living: The area named Zareka, 15 minutes to the city centre by regular bus. A short message from the family: Learn Russian in Petrozavodsk. It's the best place! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2008
During this time they received the following students: Katharina (Switzerland), Ulla (Finland), Kim (Belguim), Bernhard (Austria) and Daniela (Switzerland);
What the students say about this family:
“I am glad that I stayed with such a nice family!!! Thanks to them!”
“I had a great family. Probably the best one.”
Surname: Golomonosovy
Mother: Galina, 49 years old, kindergarten teacher.
Her children: Her dauther, 28 years old, lives and works in Mosñow; her son, 19 years old, he is a student of St. Petersburg State University. He comes home on holidays.
Their interests: Galina has a lot of friends. They like to spent time together, dance, go to the countryside and go to the concerts. Galina likes to watch comedies, read detective stories, but unfortunatly she doesn't have mucch time for it.
Pets: none
The area of living: The area named Kukkovka, 15-20 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus.
A short message from the family: I have experience of working with foreign youth in the summer camps in Karelia. I am trying to help students of “Enjoy Russian” to adapt in Russia. I will be happy to host you in my family!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2009
During this time they received the following students: David (Germany), Emil (Sweden), and Patrick (UK).
What the students say about this family:
“I had excellent living conditions. Galina has been very helpful, kind, and understanding. I’m only sorry I have not been able to repay this kindness by having more conversations with her. Everything I needed has been provided, she allowed me to have a party, and the breakfasts have been very good.”
“I’d like to thank my host family. It was very carrying!”
Surname:Dubiny
Parents:Nadezhda 47 years old, a camera operator; Victor 59 years old, retired Their children:They have two children who live apart: a son Sergej 30 years old and a daughter Luda 23 years old. Their interests:Nadezhda likes gardening, knitting and cooking, her husband Viktor is fond of hunting and fishing. Pets:There is a cat, a dog, and two parrots in the family. In the summer all pets live in the country house. The area of living: The area named Drevlyanka, 20 minutes to the city centre by regular bus. A short message from the family:Come to us, study the Russian language, and learn our culture. We will host you with pleasure! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Lui (Ireland), Tom (Sweden), Adam (Czech Republic), Steve (USA), Christopher (Ireland), Marion (France), Lydia (Switzerland), Kirsi and Anne (Finland), Marja and Erkki (Finland);
What the students say about this family:
“I was so happy to have such a nice family”;
“The flat was very comfortable. The host lady is just perfect. The food is very tasty. I would recommend this family to stay with.”
Surname:Komissarovy
Parents:Natalia, 35 years old, music teacher by training; Sergei 38 years old, driver Their children:They have 2 sons: Vladislav 13 years old and Evgenij 3 years old. Their interests:This family likes to travel, to learn new countries and cities. Pets:They have a cat named Sherly. The area of living: The area named Octyabrskij prospect, 25 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Welcome to Russia, to Karelia, to Petrozavodsk, to our family!
During this time they received the following students:Olina (Czech Republic), Radka (Czech Republic), Elise (France), Jetje (the Netherlands), Marloes (the Netherlands), Shannon and Billie Rae (USA) and Michelle (Ireland) What the students say about this family:
“I liked the food in the family very much”;
“Great food and good accommodation”;
“The family was really nice. The food was excellent and plentiful”.
Surname:Moskiny
Parents:Nadezhda 56 years old, a teacher; Ivan 57 years old. Their children:They have a daughter and a son who live apart from their parents Their interests:The family is interested in music and theatre, likes to go to the cinema and spent time in the countryside. Ivan likes history very much, he collects ancient coins and icons.
Pets:They have a cat that spends the whole summer at dacha.
The area of living:The city center near Onega lake A short message from the family:You are always welcome! We will do our best to make you feel at home! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students:Anicia (Switzerland), John (Ireland), Alan (Scotland), Holly (USA), Timo (Finland), Anneli (Estonia), Claudia (Switzerland), Daniele and Giulia (Italy), Karti (Finland), and Rajko (Slovenia). What the students say about this family:
“Living conditions are just excellent”;
“The location was perfect; my room was perfect and beautiful. I ate delicious soup every day”;
“I am very happy with my family. They hosted me very well”;
“Thank you for such a lovely family!”;
“Excellent family. Everything was all right”.
Surname: Kirikovy
Parents: Larisa and Vladimir, now they are pensioners.
Their children: Sons Urij and Pavel, daughter Julia, granddaughter Jana.
Their interests: Larissa speaks German well and likes to practice it. The youngest son Pavel - currently P.G. student works at the university as a lecturer.
Pets: None
The area of living: The area named Kukkovka, 15 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus.
A short message from the family: As soon as in our 4-room apartment live only Larissa, Vladimir and Pavel,we always have the opportunity to host foreign guests and we do it with pleasure!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2009
During this time they received the following students: Oliver (Switzerland), Christoph(Switzerland), Gregor (Switzerland) and Kamil (Poland).
What the students say about this family:
“I loved my host parents. They perfectly cared about me and provided me with delicious food. They patiently answered my questions about Russia. ”
