Reviews of Derzhavin Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia

Total number of reviews: 29

NOTE: All reviews are authentic. Only students who booked their course through us can publish evaluations here, and only after the end of their programme. These evaluations then are not manipulated in any way, neither by us nor by the school, and can be trusted as honest opinions about personal experiences with the school.

Average Rating

Based on 29 reviews of former students of Derzhavin Institute

Accommodation
Overall rating Derzhavin Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia	4.7
City	4.9
Organisation	4.8
Facilities	4.5
Social activities	4.6
Quality of teaching	4.7
Value for money	4.4
Homestay	4.6
Shared Flat (apartment)	3.9
Other	---

Back to profile of Derzhavin Institute, St. Petersburg

Individual Reviews

Derzhavin Institute

13. Nov. 2023

1. Bernard (59 years) Israel
101.Course: Standard Course + 2 Immersion Modules [Russian] - 6 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

Very professional. I was lucky enough to have a private teacher.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Having a private teacher is a blessing

Accommodation

Very depressing apartment. Always totally dark and confined.

26. Sep. 2023

2. Fabienne (64 years)

102.Course: Standard Course - 3 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The quality of teaching

City/place

A beautiful, attractive city full of vitality and cultural richness. It's great fun to walk around

13. Aug. 2023

3. Laetitia (53 years)

103.Course: Standard Course - 3 weeks

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Shared Flat

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Positive aspects of school

The people, the staff and the teachers are great. I've taken zoom courses

Negative aspects

Info in Russian, you don't know everything, especially about excursions. I know that for next year

City/place

I don't like going out to clubs, but the nightlife is great.

Accommodation

There was no meal, but tatiana is really great.

4. Oct. 2021

4. Fabien (28 years)

104.Course: Standard Course - 1 week

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Good experience! I had been there only for 10 days but the teacher and staff were super nice! Good experience

17. Feb. 2020

5. Emmanuel (46 years) France
105.Course: Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module - 1 week

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3. Nov. 2019

6. Antje (53 years)

106.Course: Standard Group Course + Speaking Immersion Module - 2 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

Great organization and willingness to help with problems. Great lessons. The individual support in the lessons was also nice thanks to the small classes in autumn/winter.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Visit the Political Museum in St. Petersburg.

Other comments

Didn't get an immigration card at the airport or lost it (please point out to everyone that this is an important piece of paper for departure). I didn't realize I needed one. The school secretary went to the police personally twice to get a new one. That was great!

City/place

The school's student ID card with special discounts is great. Unfortunately not participated in the nightlife.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Since there were few students at the school in winter, I had one-to-one conversations and we dealt with topics that were important to me.

Accommodation

The host was very nice, but the room was very overheated (cannot be regulated), and at a busy intersection and the blinds were not tight. Therefore could hardly sleep. The school accommodated me easily in their apartments (room facing the courtyard). Everything there was clean, nice, quiet and at a pleasant temperature ... consistently 4 to 5 stars.

9. Oct. 2019

7. Mirela (48 years)

107.Course: Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module [Rosyjski] - 2 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

very small groups, the teachers are very involved

22. Sep. 2019

8. Julián (44 years) United Kingdom
108.Course: Standard - 7 weeks

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21. Aug. 2019

9. Frank (50 years)

109.Course: Standard Group Course + Speaking Immersion Module [Russisch] - 2 weeks

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St. Petersburg is always worth a trip. I saw the Hermitage, the Aurora ship, the Peter and Paul Fortress. Much more is possible. However, I used some afternoons for homework and deepening the content of the language lessons.

17. Jul. 2019

10. David (66 years) United States
110.Course: Standard [Russian] - 10 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

I really liked the after school activities. Our tour guide was very good. Give the girl a raise!

City/place

I'm a big dude, so people leave me alone, but it is just as safe a city for a single woman to walk around.

Quality of teaching / language progress

The students were very inclusive and friendly even though I was twice their age. It was a really fun experience and I plan to go back for B1. The teachers were all excellent and wanted everybody to succeed, just like State Department teachers I had.

Accommodation

The bed was like a prison mattress. Even short people complained. Rooms could use an inexpensive, comfortable chair. Those are the reasons for 3 stars.

15. Jul. 2019

11. Lara (30 years) United States
111.Course: Standard Group Course + Speaking Immersion Module - 1 week

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30. Jun. 2019

12. Imogen (20 years) United Kingdom
112.Course: Standard [Russian] - 4 weeks

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Shared Flat

22. Jan. 2019

13. Elena (19 years) United States
113.Course: Intensive (Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module) [Russian] - 2 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The staff were very kind and organized, absolutely incredible.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Eat at canteens, they’re cheaper.

29. Oct. 2018

14. Adams (75 years) Belgium
114.Course: Standard [Russian] - 3 weeks

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15. Oct. 2018

15. Ulrike (55 years) Switzerland
115.Course: Standard - 3 weeks

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5. Sep. 2018

16. Michael (57 years) Germany
116.Course: Standard Group Course + Speaking Immersion Module - 3 weeks

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3. Sep. 2018

17. Maddalena (21 years) Italy
117.Course: Standard Group Course + Speaking Immersion Module - 3 weeks

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Shared Flat

23. Aug. 2018

18. Hayden (45 years) New Zealand
118.Course: Intensive (Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module) - 3 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The whole organisation was professional, efficient, well-structured, straightforward and kind. And I loved that we only spoke Russian.

21. Aug. 2018

19. Neil (33 years) United Kingdom
119.Course: Intensive (Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module) - 1 week

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Positive aspects of school

Students were all friendly. Staff were very professional. Well organised.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Although for the beginner classes there is no pre-requisite learning, I would strongly advise learning the alphabet as I struggled throughout the week. This should be recommended to all beginner students.

6. Aug. 2018

20. Ömer Buğrahan (20 years) Turkey
120.Course: Standard - 4 weeks

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Shared Flat

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Positive aspects of school

Environment and teachers

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

It would be better for them to travel

2. Aug. 2018

21. Jakob (19 years)

121.Course: Standard - 2 weeks

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Shared Flat

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Positive aspects of school

The family environment, the small study groups, the lounge, the fellow students

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

countless attractions, such as: Hermitage, bridge openings, Peter Paul, Nevsky Prospekt

10. Jul. 2018

22. Bernardo (76 years)

122.Course: 1 week

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Positive aspects of school

Both teachers worked goal-oriented. They picked up on my suggestions and learning needs and did well-prepared exercises the following day.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

What I think should be included in the individual lessons are translations, in both directions: Russian - German (French, Spanish, English, ...) and, just as important, in the opposite direction. I also consider it essential that the differences in the case government of verbs and prepositions between the learner's mother tongue and the Russian language are highlighted. With regard to indirect speech and the conditionalis (the subjunctive), it is essential to point out the ambiguity and contextuality in Russian compared to the mother tongue. Here, too, translation exercises are important and helpful.

Other comments

It is a pity that there are no male teachers. In my experience, a balance of female and male teachers is important. Male teachers emphasize other aspects than female teachers and set other priorities in terms of the atmosphere.

28. May. 2018

23. Olga (30 years) Slovakia
123.Course: Intensive (Standard Group Course + Grammar Immersion Module + Speaking Immersion Module) - 3 weeks

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I really liked the overall experience very much. The school itself was nice, the teachers were professionals and the study program was challenging enough. I learned a lot and I'm thinking about repeating the course again next year.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

I realy liked the leisure activities organised by school not only during the week but, also on Saturdays. I went to Petergrof and Pushkin with school and in both cases, it was great experience.

22. Aug. 2017

24. Alexander (23 years) Paraguay
124.Course: 6 Weeks Intensive Course + 6 weeks Individual Tuition 1 - 6 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

It may be the Certificate Delivery each Friday. There is a meeting in the hall each Friday with photos, cookies and group feelings.

25. Jul. 2017

25. Frank (55 years) Belgium
125.Course: Standard - 2 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

The organization and the teachers.

Other comments

very professional

15. May. 2017

26. Anita (27 years) Switzerland
126.Course: Long stay course - 9 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

Quality of teaching is very high and the teachers use different tools to help us progress in our language studies. The school is centrally located, which allows the student to reach it easily. The organisation at the Institute is really high-level, which made me feel really comfortable from the first day on.

12. Sep. 2016

27. Dariusz (51 years)

127.Course: TRKI Exam Preparatory Course - 3 weeks

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Positive aspects of school

a high level of teachers, good organization, nice atmosphere

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

close to the metro station, shops open 24/7 and bars, course participants receive a student ID card of the Russian Federation (numerous and significant relief, eg. in museums, many entry based on card free of charge), the school gives 24 Hour Emergency phones

Other comments

I highly recommend going back there

22. Aug. 2016

28. Yanne (23 years)

128.Course: Intensive - 2 weeks