Liden & Denz Intercultural Institute of Languages, Russia

🎓🌍 Today, we would like to honour our brave students and the calm professionalism of our dedicated teachers who guide them on their journey to master Russian! 🇷🇺✨
From Riga to Moscow and St. Petersburg, our graduation ceremonies celebrate the remarkable collaboration between students and teachers. 🎉🎓
Their unwavering determination and calm expertise create a transformative learning experience. 💪
To our inspiring educators, thank you for your guidance, patience, and commitment. You are the driving force behind our students' success. 🌟
Cheers to fearless students and professional teachers! 🥂🎉

📸 Hey there, lovely people! Check out this candid snapshot of our awesome students enjoying their break at Liden & Denz Moscow! 😄☕️

During those precious moments of downtime, you can see the vibrant energy and laughter filling the air. Our students are bonding, having a great time, and making memories that will last a lifetime! 🎉❤️

Some of them are engrossed in an intense game of nards, showcasing their competitive spirit and strategic skills. 🎲♟️ Meanwhile, others are sipping on delicious cups of coffee, fueling their minds and conversations with caffeine-infused awesomeness. ☕️☕️

It's incredible to witness the exchange of cultures and the connections being formed right here in our lively language school. 🌍🌟 From language learning to laughter and everything in between, these moments during the break truly capture the vibrant spirit of our community!

🎅 Ho ho ho! Guess what? Our amazing teacher Jouliana and some of our awesome students rocked the Santa Clauses charity run race in Riga last weekend! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💨
They put on their jolly Santa outfits, tied their shoelaces tight, and dashed through the snowy streets of Riga spreading holiday cheer and goodwill. 🎄❄️
Let's give a big round of applause to Jouliana and our fantastic students for spreading joy and love through their Santa Claus charity run. You are all true Santas with hearts of gold! 🌟❤️

How to say "Get well soon!" in Russian? Swipe, like and share!

Our student and intern Darcie is living in one of the shared flats. Here is her personal experience:

Why stay in a shared apartment with Liden and Denz Riga? - Liden & Denz Throughout my experience both studying and interning with Liden and Denz, one thing has stood out to me is the quality of my shared flat experience!

Мы в Чикаго! We are in Chicago! Come and visit us at ACTFL Annual Convention at McCormick Place West in Chicago, IL, November 17-19.

Explore how learning Russian can benefit your career as a young professional. Read the interview with William James, a Doctor based in Norway, who shares his experience and insights on studying Russian at Liden & Denz Riga. Find out why Riga is a captivating city to explore and get valuable advice for learning the Russian language.

https://lidenz.com/student-interview-why-riga-is-the-perfect-place-for-young-professionals-to-learn-russian/

... at Liden & Denz Riga...

🌟 We are excited to share this wonderful review from one of our former students about their experience at Liden & Denz in Riga! Here's what they had to say:
"The team at Liden and Denz have created a program tailored to the international community that is the best of both worlds: rigorous and friendly. The instruction, materials, facilities, and location far exceeded my expectations. They put me in just the right level of class, and after four weeks of daily group lessons and living with a host family, I could feel a strengthening of my weak areas of grammar and communication. No, I didn't magically raise 2 levels in a month, but I did grow and got inspired to continue my studies once returning home.
If you want to practice your Russian, I can say that in my month there I found that just about everyone I interacted with in town was able to speak Russian (yes, some locals do feel weird about it because of the political situation). Additionally, I experienced a strong sense of community among the students, which made my time as a foreigner abroad that much more enjoyable.
If you're considering continuing your Russian studies abroad, I can confidently say that you would not be disappointed if you choose to study with Liden & Denz in Riga."
Thank you to our Casey for sharing your experience with us! Your growth, inspiration, and sense of community mean the world to us. 🌍❤️
If you would like to leave a review about your stay with us, do it here: https://g.page/r/Cfe4LEjIifVhEBM/review

Баня номер 1 (Pirts #1) is a place to spend miserable and chilly late autumn afternoons for a number of reasons. Language practice and people observation is one of them. Just like on a long-distance train in Russia, you have to engage in a conversation with complete (and in banya, naked) strangers. Local Russian-speaking women get extremely chatty in a Turkish steambath, however, the "steam/sweat room" - парилка - is the place to observe the rituals. First, you soak your oak or birch broom in an oval-shaped plastic basin. Then you shower, put on a wool hat, and enter a temple of steam. It can get as hot as 90 degrees Celsius, and regulars add more water ("поддают") to the furnace, so it is very humid as well.
The room is dark and has a stair-like structure, so you can sit below or climb up to the top floor. You sit on your towel or sheet and try to keep your head down. When the matriarch regular is satisfied with the temperature and steam, she commands "Начинай!" - Go ahead! and everyone starts beating themselves with brooms. The idea is to disperse the heat and then "lock it" between the broom and the skin. The next step is diving into a cold swimming pool or tipping a bucket of ice-cold water over you. Then you repeat and repeat and repeat again. In between you scrub, apply hair/face masks, and some hours later, rise from the ashes and feel reborn. Spoiler: you will feel high along the way, too) Banya visit: 13 EUR (10 EUR for students); locker included. Plastic slippers to rent - 2 EUR. The hat you can get for free. Brooms - 4-5 EUR.
#русскаябаня #баня

🎄 Don't miss out on the Riga Orthodox Christmas Offer! 🎄
Experience a winter break like no other in Riga, Latvia, while enhancing your Russian language skills! Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere as you dive into both Russian and Latvian culture.
📅 Winter 2024 Programme Highlights:
- Start Date: 07 Jan 2024
- End Date: 21 Jan 2024
- Booking Deadline: 30 Nov 2023
- All-inclusive Cost: €1310
🌟 What's included:
- 20 lessons per week (40 lessons in total)
- Stay with a local host family and enjoy delicious half-board meals
- Pre-arrival assessment test
- Dive into Orthodox Christmas and Epiphany traditions
- Watch classic Soviet New Year movies
- Get your hands dirty in a fun Soviet New Year's Eve Culinary Class
Ready for an unforgettable winter break? Book now ([email protected]) and make memories that will last a lifetime! ❄️🌟🎉

Photo credit: Flickr Live Riga

Look at these pretties! 🎨✨ Last Friday, we held an exciting Matryoshka painting Master Class at Liden & Denz in St. Petersburg, and it was an absolute blast!
Our talented students embarked on a creative journey, learning the intricate process of painting these iconic Russian nesting dolls. First, they covered their blank Matryoshkas with a smooth layer of white acrylic paint, providing a pristine canvas for their artistic expressions.
With pencils in hand, our students carefully sketched out the faces and intricate details of each doll. From the delicate eyes to the rosy cheeks, every stroke was filled with imagination and precision.
Then came the most exciting part! Armed with a vibrant palette of colours, our students brought their Matryoshkas to life. Each brushstroke added depth, character, and personality to these adorable dolls. It was truly a joy to witness the transformation unfold.
What a lovely souvenir our students will bring home from Russia! Agree?

🎓✨ Last Friday was a bittersweet day for us at Liden & Denz Moscow as we bid farewell to a student who spent 12 weeks with us! We were all filled with mixed emotions, so we decided to sweeten the pill (ПОДСЛАСТИТЬ ПИЛЮЛЮ) with a delightful surprise. Not just one, but several cakes! 🍰🎉

Our talented front desk manager, Julia, prepared a mouthwatering tiramisu, while one of our graduates brought a scrumptious Napoleon cake. As we indulged in these delectable treats, we couldn't help but feel a little comforted amidst the farewells. 😋💕

It's moments like these that make our language school a close-knit community. We cherish the bonds we create and the memories we share. Join us on this journey of Russian language learning, friendship, and unforgettable experiences! 🌍🤝

Are Slavic people at an advantage when learning Russian?
Russian is often regarded as a complex language to learn, so first of all let us congratulate on your progress! However, you may observe that your Slavic classmates don't struggle as much as you do. Does knowledge of other Slavic languages provide an advantage in learning Russian? The answer is yes, but let's delve deeper into how other Slavic languages share similarities with Russian.
https://lidenz.com/slavic-people-learning-russian/

One of our host families in Riga has a real 10ha farmstead an hours drive from the city. Apple picking using some student labor 🤪 (Квентин А. Хернандез), mushroom hunt in the woods, potatoes digging (not pictured, too sweaty), picturesque barns, escargot, and roe deer (not pictured, too fast) - all in one Saturday.

📸✈️ Liden & Denz Teachers Travel: Perm with Nadya Lyubich! 🏞️⛺️
2 hrs flight from St.Pete and 2 hrs ahead, Perm is a gateway to Urals. It has Finno-Ugric heritage in toponyms (Per maa - the land behind), rich industrial history - the clan of Stroganoffs, the art patrons, has it roots here, and underrated natural wonders. It's a land full of legends, endless taiga, myriads of winding rivers, breathtaking views from steep rock formations, and a variety of caves, canyons, and other remnants of a prehistoric sea. Soviet era brought convict settlements, prison camps, and forced tree felling labor. By now Perm region has recovered from most scars those operation had left and has become a favourite shooting location for Russian cinema industry. "Geographer drank his globe away" and "Time of the first" are among the long list of movies that used the dramatic natural setting as a background to their plots.

While Riga embraces both the Latvian and Russian languages, you might wonder about the current status of Russian. However, don't let this deter you. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your Russian skills and immerse yourself fully in the language. To make your interactions with Russian-speaking locals easier, here are three valuable recommendations to enrich your linguistic journey!

How to practice Russian in Riga? - Liden & Denz Unsure where to practice Russian in Riga? Do not worry; follow our tips, and you will easily immerse yourself in the language!

📢🌟 Hey everyone! Let me introduce you to Anna, the newest member of our intern squad at Liden & Denz in Riga! 🎉 She's a master's student from the Czech Republic, with a passion for history and a burning desire to explore all things Riga through her awesome blog posts. Get ready to be blown away!

💫 So, why did Anna decide to learn Russian? Her parents made the decision for her. But you know what? Thanks to its incredible history and culture, Anna ended up falling head over heels for the language. With her Slavic background, Russian perfectly complements her mother tongue (Czech), and it even helps her understand other Slavic languages like Croatian. As an international relations and security student, Russian opens up a world of awesome opportunities for her future career.

✨ Why did Anna choose Liden & Denz in Riga? She's always had learning Russian on her to-do list, but she never really made significant progress, even with classes back home. That's when she decided to join Liden & Denz in St. Petersburg in 2019, and was blown away by the quality of their teaching. That's why she's back for round two! With her university studies coming to an end, Anna is determined to crush the TRKI exam in the near future, and she's confident that Liden & Denz is the perfect place to refresh her Russian skills. Let's get it, Anna! 🔥

🌟 What's got Anna excited about her time in Riga? Oh, you won't believe it! She's been to this city before, and she absolutely loved the cosy and friendly atmosphere of the city centre. This time around, she's planning to explore beyond the narrow streets and check out the beach while the weather is still nice. And guess what? Anna is a total coffee and tea addict, so she can't wait to try out different cafes and indulge in as many local dishes as possible. Yum!

✨ Anna hopes that her articles on lidenz.com/blog will bring you new information and inspire you to delve deeper into the Russian language and the wonders of Riga. Stay tuned for some epic adventures as Anna takes you on a journey of language learning and exploration. Let's rock this together! 💪💫

Happy Graduation to all students leaving our centres this week! We will be happy to see you once again one day!

A big hello from Liden & Denz Moscow.



https://lidenz.com/learn-russian-in-moscow/

📢🌟 Discover Useful Russian Texting Phrases for Everyday Conversations! 🇷🇺💬

Are you learning Russian and frequently communicate with friends or colleagues on WhatsApp or Facebook? Instead of struggling with the Russian keyboard, why not text like a true Russian and save yourself valuable time? Check out these handy phrases:

🔹 "мб" - short for "может быть" (maybe)
For example: Вы придете на вечеринку? Мб. (Will you come to the party? Maybe.)

🔹 "кмк" - short for "как мне кажется" (in my opinion)
For example: кмк скоро будет дождь. (In my opinion, it will rain soon.)

🔹 "спс" - abbreviation for "спасибо" (thanks)
For example: спс за торт. (Thanks for the cake.)

🔹 "слу" - short for "слушай" (listen)
For example: слу, пойдем сегодня на вечеринку? (Listen, shall we go to the party today?)

🔹 "ща" - short for "сейчас" (now)
For example: ща, я иду в парк. (Now I am going to the park.)

🔹 "оч" / "не оч" - short for "очень" / "не очень" (very / not very)
For example: это далеко? не оч. (Is it far? Not very.)

Explore More Useful Phrases for Different Occasions, Emotions, and Abbreviations in our latest blog! Improve your Russian texting skills and make your conversations more engaging and efficient. 📱💬

Read the full article on our blog, brought to you by Emily Gray, currently studying Russian at Liden and Denz in Riga. 🌟✨

Enjoy your Russian learning journey with Liden & Denz! 🇷🇺🌍

Russian SMS Language - Liden & Denz If you want to seem truly Russian when communicating online, it is useful to know some Russian SMS Language. Here are some handy phrases.

🎓🌟 Congratulations to one of our students for successfully passing the TRKI 3 exam and confirming his C1 level of Russian proficiency! 🥳👏

We are thrilled to celebrate Jacob's achievement and showcase his dedication to mastering the Russian language. 💪📚

If you aspire to achieve the same success in passing TRKI, join our special preparation course at Liden & Denz! Our experienced teachers will guide you towards exam success. 🌟



https://lidenz.com/courses/trki-language-exam/?channel=Facebook

Our alumni Luke understood that his Russian immersion at Liden & Denz Riga was successful while he was visiting Banya (a sauna sort of). Thrilling? Follow the link to read the whole story.

Spoiler: There are no photos from Banya in the post. 😎😎😎

Luke the Intern returns home—a look back on Riga - Liden & Denz It's time for Luke the Intern to say a final goodbye. He's had a blast in Riga—so what was the best thing about studying and working here?

Russians start to learn poetry by heart from babyhood. What for? And how their experience might be useful to Russian language learners. Find out more in a new article by our student Luke Dale.

By Heart Poetry: A Very Russian Obsession - Liden & Denz Russians know loads of poems off by heart. Why is that? Where did they learn? And should we take a leaf out of their poetry book?

Hello everyone! Allow us to introduce Emily, our newest intern at Liden and Denz in Riga. She's currently studying Russian and Spanish at the University of Durham in England and has been passionate about languages for as long as she can remember.
Emily chose to study Russian because she loves a good challenge. Despite finding romance languages relatively easy, she wanted to push herself further and delve into the complexities of Russian. Her fascination with history also played a significant role in her decision, as Russia's extensive and captivating history seemed like a perfect fit for her.
What brought her to Riga?😊 After completing a six-month Spanish program in Colombia, Emily was drawn to our language program here at Liden and Denz. But it wasn't just about the language. She was captivated by Riga's stunning beauty, with its impressive art nouveau architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The fact that you can go from city exploration to a relaxing beach in just thirty minutes sealed the deal for her. Already, she has experienced some of Riga's highlights, including the central market and the thought-provoking KGB museum, which she found so inspiring that she's writing an article about it for her university.
We're thrilled to have her on board. She's eager to write articles about life in Riga, combining her love for history and art to create engaging pieces. With her experience writing for her school's magazine and the UK's largest student newspaper, she's versatile in various writing styles, from light-hearted satire to insightful international commentary.
We're confident that Emily will provide you all with informative and enjoyable articles during her time here. So, stay tuned for her captivating insights and captivating storytelling on lidenz.com/blog.

The Russian language has been shaped by a rich history, including the influences of Church Slavonic, Old Norse, and Turkic languages. These linguistic influences have contributed to the complexity and diversity of the Russian language we know today.

Echoes from the Past: The Influence of other Languages on Russian - Liden & Denz The influence on Russian language derives from a rich history, including languages such as Church Slavonic, Old Norse, and Turkic languages.

Can you decipher familiar names when you see them in ? Give us your variants in the comments below.
💵 FYI 1 USD = 96 RUB; 1 EUR = 105 RUB
📍Location: coffeeshop/bakery around the corner of Liden & Denz St. Petersburg

Farewell and very personal post of our lovely intern Yeap. We will definitely miss you!

An Intern's Farewell: Ten Weeks in Riga - Liden & Denz Coming to Latvia to learn Russian was initially a random, spontaneous decision, and I am very grateful for this opportunity.

📸 Behind the Scenes: Capturing the Charm of Riga! 🎥
Get ready to be captivated by the enchanting city of Riga and the vibrant atmosphere at Liden & Denz! 🌟
Our team recently embarked on a filming adventure to create a brand-new promo video, and we are thrilled to share a sneak peek with you! 📷
The photos we captured during the shoot are absolutely charming! They showcase the historic streets, picturesque architecture, charming Jurmala beach and vibrant culture of Riga. 🏰🌸
Stay tuned as we put the final touches on our captivating promo video that will showcase not only the beauty of Riga but also the exceptional learning experience at Liden & Denz. 🌍📚
Thank you to everyone involve in making this project possible, and a special shoutout to our talented team of photographers and videographers! 🙌✨
Get ready to fall in love with Riga and the Liden & Denz experience all over again! ❤️

At the end of last week we said goodbye to our blogging intern James. In his farewell post, he tells us about his experience here and how he thinks Russia changed him - have a read to find out more!

Making friends in St Petersburg - goodbye James! | Liden & Denz Russia I have had an extremely enjoyable time at Liden & Denz, and I am sad that just as St. Petersburg is starting to feel like home and I have made some great friends, it’s already пора домой (time to go home). Thanks to Liden & Denz I have fallen in love with Russian again!

Now that summer is coming to an end and back-to-school is around the corner, take a moment to have a look at our intern Michael's compilation of late-summer Russian jams... enjoy!

A Late-summer Russian Music Playlist for the Young at Heart Listening to Russian music is a great way to improve language skills and understand culture. So, with just a few weeks of summer left, click to find embedded videos, commentary, and fun facts!