Natasha Samoilova

Russian has a reputation for being difficult — but learning it can also be great fun!

I am a native Russian speaker, born and brought up in Moscow. I came to Scotland to do my PhD and have now been teaching Russian here for over 20 years. I have taught students of all ages and levels, both at universities and in adult education. Edinburgh has become my home, and I particularly enjoy introducing people here to my language and culture.

My one-to-one lessons are friendly, relaxed and tailored to you. Whether you are starting from scratch, returning to Russian after a long break, or already an advanced speaker, we can work at your pace and focus on what you need most — conversation, grammar, pronunciation, reading, Russian culture, or a mixture of all of these.

I like to keep lessons varied — there is more to learning Russian than memorising grammatical endings! We might discuss a news story, work with a Russian text, tackle a tricky grammar problem, or simply spend a lesson talking. If you have a particular goal — travelling, preparing for an exam, or simply becoming more confident in Russian — we can build the lessons around it.
Lessons are available in person in Edinburgh or online.

I love teaching Russian and meeting new people. After more than 20 years, I still find it fascinating — and I learn something from my students in almost every lesson.