Certified, Experienced Native Russian Instructor

Maria B.

Learn Russian through language, literature, history, and culture.
Hello! My name is Maria, and I am a native Russian speaker from Moscow. I currently teach Russian to adult learners at the International Center for Language Studies (ICLS) in Washington, D.C. I hold a teaching diploma in Russian as a Second Language from Lomonosov Moscow State University, a Ph.D. in Art Studies (specializing in theatre) from GITIS, and a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies from Stockholm University. In addition to teaching, I am a published author and researcher with a passion for Russian language, literature, history, and culture.
I have extensive experience teaching adult learners in both classroom and one-on-one settings. My students range from complete beginners to advanced speakers, including professionals, graduate students, heritage speakers, and people learning Russian for travel, work, or personal enrichment. Every lesson is personalized to the student's goals, interests, and learning style. I believe that language learning is most successful when students actively communicate, ask questions, and enjoy the learning process.
My lessons combine practical language instruction with authentic cultural materials, including literature, history, and contemporary life in the Russian-speaking world. Whether you want to build a strong grammatical foundation, improve your conversation skills, prepare for academic work, or deepen your understanding of Russian culture, I will create lessons that are engaging, supportive, and designed specifically for you. My goal is not only to help you speak Russian with confidence but also to help you discover the richness of the language and the culture behind it.
I look forward to helping you achieve your language goals!