I was working for Scottish & Newcastle on Baltika brand, hosting visitors from St. Petersburg and taking S & N clients over to St.Petersburg. Had a degree in French & Russian (1974!!!) and urgently needed to refresh and improve my verbal and written Russian. I am absolutely delighted with the lessons which Alfiya tailored to meet my requirements. Appropriate homework and study materials were provided weekly. The Russian Club Meet Ups is an excellent idea for which Alfiya can take full credit. An opportunity for her students to develop their understanding of the Russian language and culture. Alfiya provides a welcoming environment for the meet ups where she structures the content to educate and entertain her students.

I am 27 years old and I am currently a PhD student of Glaciology at the University of Aberystwyth, Wales. My reason for learning Russian is simply that I find Russia, its people and its landscape fascinating. I want to travel and explore Russia properly. I am very happy with the lessons. Alfiya is a great teacher, and very patient, even when I am not. The Russian club meet-ups are very helpful, and I always come away feeling like I have learned a little more of the language that I had when I arrived. Also, it is great to learn a little more about Russian culture and traditions from Alfiya and the other students.

I am 27, countryside ranger. I continue to learn Russian because I am interested in the language and Russia. I am quite happy about the lessons.

I wanted to continue a language I've already spent time trying to learn, and to be able to read Russian documents. I think my Russian language skills have improved. The Russian Club Meet Ups are a lot of fun, unlike many Russian language meet-ups I have attended, including both free conversation and education parts.

My name is Adam Martin and I am 24 years old. I have only just started to learn Russian and have completed a few hours of tuition with Alfiya. It is a language that I have always found sounds very interesting and I hope to learn more about the country through the lessons, hopefully one day to travel there. The lessons have been very clear even if the language itself isn't always so! But the materials that are provided have also been helpful. I am looking forward to being able to participate in the group discussions soon.

I have a Russian partner and two step-daughters. The lessons have helped me tremendously on a weekly basis. The Meet-ups are very friendly.

I want to keep in touch with Russian friends I have and I occasionally work with native Russian speakers. When I started Alfiya asked me quite a lot of questions about what I wanted from a class, so she knows exactly what I want and what I need to work on to improve my Russian. I think when you want to learn a language you need all the help and support you can get. The Meet-ups allow me to meet other people learning Russian and build my confidence in speaking the language.

I wanted to learn another language, and I've always been interested in Russian Culture/Russia. I was struggling to learn Russian from books and friends for 4 years, but when I started lessons, my Russian ability has skyrocketed. I have been only to one Russian Club Meet up so I can't say much. But from the one I went to it was a great help, a good exchange of culture as well.

Я венгерка. Я начала изучать русский язык в школе в Венгрии и продолжилa изучение, когда началa работать. Мне нужен русский язык по работе, так как наша компания имеет партнёров в России, Украине, Белоруссии. Я интересуюсь также русской культурой. Я начала изучение русского языка с Альфиёй в Эдинбурге, сейчас я живу в Венгрии, но это не преграда для продолжения уроков. Мы занимаемся через систему Skype. Это прекрасно, и я думаю, что даже через Skype у меня есть возможность принимать участие во встречах Русского клуба общения. По моему мнению, изучать русский язык с Альфией очень легко. Она - великолепная преподавательница и человек также.