Russian (Beginners): Hanna Matt

Hanna, a credited student from Liechtenstein, studied Beginners' Russian at the University Language Centre (ULC).

Why did you choose to study a language at The University of Manchester?

This year, I studied beginners' Russian as a 20-credit module as part of my history degree.

I thought it would be nice to do something a little different as part of my degree, and as I'm really interested in Russian history this was an obvious choice for me.

Apart from class time, how much time did you spend a week on your studies?

I tend to pick up languages quite quickly so a couple of hours a week were usually enough for me to stay on top of things.

Leading up to exams I would dedicate more time to my Russian studies and do a little bit of revision every day.

How did you find your course in terms of level?

I was really impressed with how much we learnt this year. We started the course as complete beginners, which meant we first had to learn the alphabet and have progressed to a level where we're able to hold basic conversations in Russian.

What did you most enjoy about your course?

I really enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the course. I like that we learnt something new and were challenged every week. The small class size definitely helped with this and I've made some really good friends through doing a LEAP course this year.

Have you been able to put your newly acquired language skills to use outside the classroom? If so, please tell us how.

I am planning a trip to Russia this summer to test and further improve my language skills.

When making arrangements over the phone I was able to introduce myself in Russian, which I think my hosts appreciated. I also get very excited when I look at primary sources like propaganda posters and am able to recognise words and translate basic sentences.

What advice would you give to someone intending to study a language at the University Language Centre?

I think when learning any language it's important to be consistent in your efforts. Its important to stay on top of things so you can follow the progression of the course week after week and it's much easier to learn small chunks of vocabulary than trying to do everything at once.