Russian

Our language courses are designed for:

• introductory learners,
• those who do not read, write or speak a foreign language,
• second+ generation migrants who wish to learn to read, write and speak their Heritage Language,
• Pākehā learners who wish to better engage with native speakers.

Our Language Teaching Methods

At EarthDiverse, we also know how busy we all are these days, and how much of a commitment learning a new language can be. That’s why we try to make learning a new language as effortless as possible.

All we require is for you to commit an hour and a half of your time each week to attend your class sessions, either in-person, live-streaming via Zoom, or watching the recorded video sessions. That’s 12 class hours per term delivered in 8 sessions, or 48 hours a year.

The majority of our students who commit to 2 years of class-only language instruction (or 96 hours total over two years), can read, understand and have conversations in their new language.

We do not require you to complete extra study in addition to your hour and a half time commitment, nor do we require you to complete any outside-of-class homework. You can always do this if you like, and your instructor will support you 100%. If you’d like to go that extra mile.

We provide sets of flashcards for vocabulary learning that you can freely access via the Quizlet app on your phones, tablets and computers.

For learning new scripts, we suggest downloading the free Scripts app, which currently supports Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese. For grammar, conversation and comprehension, we suggest downloading the free Drops or Duolinguo apps.

Using Quizlet for vocabulary, Scripts for learning how to write non-Roman letters, and Drops or Duolinguo for grammar and comprehension allows you to reinforce your language learning while you’re waiting in line for your takeaway felafel, sitting in an office waiting for an appointment, or waiting in your car to pick up the kids.

You can use any of these tools whenever and wherever you want, in short 5 minute bursts, and as often as you like, including not at all.

In short, EarthDiverse wants to make language learning as simple and easy as possible. And if you’re committed, think long term and we can make language acquisition as painless and passive as if you were a baby learning your first language.

While this method is radically different from “intensive study” or “total immersion” methods of most language schools, we feel that our pedagogy actually works for busy adult learners who may not have more time to devote to language learning than the one and a half hour class commitment each week.

While you may not be speaking your chosen language after a year of study (8 sessions per Term over 4 terms per year = 32 class sessions of 1.5 hrs = 48 class hours spread out over a year).

If you stick with it, you most likely will by the end of your second year, and will have done so with little interruption to your weekly schedule other than setting aside a short period each week during the Term. And if you’re keen to do more or learn faster, our instructors are always ready to help you tailor your language programme to best suit your needs.

On Language

At EarthDiverse, we believe that language is culture, and there is no true understanding of other cultures unless we make an effort to learn non-English languages. If we truly wish to engage with others we must begin to learn some of the other spoken languages and written alphabets of our diverse earth. We have the capacity.

Language learning can be fun and engaging, and is a great way to exercise our brains.