Varvara Shevchenko

Hello, I'm Varvara – a native Russian speaker and a qualified teacher of Russian and English language and literature. I graduated with distinction from Izmail State University of Humanities and have over 10 years of experience teaching languages, including teaching Russian to foreign learners and several years of one-to-one online lessons. I have lived in England for over four years and currently work in UK primary schools, so I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and follow safeguarding procedures.

Because I'm fluent in English, I can explain Russian clearly and simply to English speakers. I know exactly which parts feel difficult at first – the Cyrillic alphabet, pronunciation, cases, verbs of motion and aspect – and I break them down step by step so they become logical and manageable.

How my lessons work:
In our first lesson, I'll get to know you, check your level and talk about your goals – travel, family, work, exams or simply a love of the language. Then I'll create a personal learning plan for you.

Each lesson is interactive and focused on speaking from day one. We combine conversation practice, vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening, using real-life situations, dialogues, short texts, songs and videos. I'm an authorised partner of Direct Language Lab and use their communicative method, which helps students start speaking naturally and confidently. After each lesson, you'll get short, practical homework, and we'll regularly review your progress.

Who I teach:
- Complete beginners to advanced learners
- Adults learning for work, travel or family
- GCSE and A level students preparing for exams
- Children from Russian-speaking or mixed families who want to keep and develop their Russian

My lessons are patient, friendly and encouraging – there are no silly questions, and mistakes are simply part of learning. I'd love to help you discover the beauty of the Russian language and feel confident using it. Book your first lesson and let's start together!