I was lucky enough to start learning Russian while still at school and was able to study Russian language and literature at university. While a student I visited Moscow and returned a few years later to Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad) as a tourist. In the many years since, professional and personal pressures pushed me in the direction of other languages and my Russian became rusty to say the least.

When I ceased working full-time I decided to re-kindle my interest in Russian culture and looked around for a suitable part-time language course – not easy to find in South Dublin. Fortunately I discovered Irina’s class in Rathmines and have made excellent progress thanks to the Kalinka Language School. Although much of the coursework seems like revision, Irina has helped me to plug some serious gaps in my knowledge of some of the basics of the language and her insistence on correct pronunciation is really appreciated.

My aim is to be able to read the works of modern Russian writers in the original and to travel to Russia again – may be to visit parts where English-speaking guides are rare!.