With the need to deepen my knowledge of the Russian language, I was delighted to find the course I needed at SOCIUS, as a former student of ISEG.
The classes taught by Professor Elena Bulakh met my expectations because, although the courses are organized and structured according to the European framework of Languages, the teacher is flexible and knowledgeable enough to adapt the lessons to our needs. The lessons are very dynamic because, as well as imparting up-to-date knowledge, they are accompanied by a variety of teaching resources that help us understand the topics. The teacher's dedication, competence and guidance have been important in reviewing knowledge and developing not only the language but also the culture of Dostoiévski country.
For everything, thank you SOCIUS and Professor Elena Bulakh.
A. R. (Economist)
It gives me great pleasure to publicly express my appreciation for the “Russian Language and Culture” course taught by Professor Elena Bulakh.
At a time when Russia is so much mentioned in the media, not always for the best reasons, I would like to highlight the timeliness of this course and thank SOCIUS/ISEG from the Universidade de Lisboa for the decision to promote it. Russia is much more than the actions of its current leaders and this course allows us to show the other side - it allows us to learn the language of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky or Akhmatova; to discover the culture of Prokofiev, Stravinsky or Shostakovich; to understand the history of an immense territory and how it has also shaped the world as we know it; and, above all, to understand the way of life of the Russian people, their way of thinking and their traditions.
In my personal case, attending this course has allowed me to improve my previously acquired knowledge in a very positive way. I would like to highlight, in particular, the face-to-face format of the classes, which allows us to create very stimulating and educational dynamics; and the richness of the teaching material provided by Professor Elena, in particular the audiovisual media, which allow us to introduce new teaching methodologies and facilitate the understanding of more complex topics, such as grammatical aspects, among others.
Finally, I would like to highlight the importance of Professor Elena to the success of this course. Her professionalism and in-depth knowledge of the Russian language and culture, along with her friendliness, good humor, patience, enthusiasm and availability, make the classes deeply enriching and make all the difference to the motivation and learning of her students.
I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to get to know the real Russia, with all its richness and cultural diversity, and I would like to thank SOCIUS/ISEG for making this training offer available, which once again demonstrates the unique character and excellence of this Institute.
Eduardo Augusto (Economist)
I have always been interested in Slavic culture and languages, particularly Russian. For various reasons, I was only able to learn Russian after I retired.
I have greatly enjoyed this experience provided by SOCIUS and Professor Helena Bulakh, who with her experience and competence conveys to us in a clear, concise and motivating way the knowledge we are aiming to achieve. In fact, her classes - which we do not notice as the hours go by - are a pleasure for her students.
My experience as a former teacher in higher education for 40 years allows me to evaluate the qualities of our teacher, in the multiple aspects of the complex process of teaching.
I therefore believe that the Russian language and culture course is of great interest and quality, which is why it should be maintained in both face-to-face and distance learning formats, under the supervision of Professor Helena Bulakh.
Finally, regarding the teaching material we have been provided with, it is important to mention its quality, which together with the quality of the lessons form a whole of excellence.
A word of thanks to Professor Helena Bulakh and SOCIUS.
Well done!
Gabriela Veloso (Retired Teacher from Ulisboa)
I would like to share my extremely positive experience as a student on the Russian Language and Culture course taught by Professor Elena Bulakh at SOCIUS/ISEG from Universidade de Lisboa, during which I have had the opportunity not only to learn a challenging and fascinating language, but also to do so in a welcoming, stimulating and deeply human environment.
From the outset, Professor Elena has demonstrated exemplary professionalism, combining solid academic training and in-depth knowledge of the Russian language and culture, with an engaging and accessible pedagogical approach, always adapted to the pace of the group.
The lessons are carefully structured, and Professor Elena uses a variety of teaching aids to make complex content easier to understand. In addition, the introduction of cultural elements makes each session even more enriching.
In addition to her professional skills, Professor Elena shows invaluable human qualities in this type of context: she is approachable, patient and pays genuine attention to her students. Her empathy and good humor create an atmosphere of trust and motivation, which is essential for learning a language like Russian.
I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning Russian, whether out of cultural curiosity, professional or family need, or personal interest. It is an unmissable opportunity for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of the Russian language, guided by an excellent professional and a teacher who is truly passionate about what she does.
I would like to highlight the importance of continuing this course in the next academic year, maintaining the option of face-to-face classes. Direct interaction in the classroom is irreplaceable and significantly enriches the learning process, promoting a deeper understanding of the Russian language and culture. I hope this SOCIUS/ISEG project continues for many years to come, with the same enthusiasm, quality and dedication.
Miguel Santos (Engineer)
When I decided to embark on a journey through the Russian language, I had no doubt about the best choice, which would be through SOCIUS with Professor Elena Bulakh, and start the Course in Russian Language and Culture.
I would like to thank Professor Elena immensely for her wisdom, enthusiasm and dedication to her students, which are determining factors in the success of learning the Russian language and everything else she teaches us.
The fact that we can take classes both in person and online is a great asset, and another aspect that I think is very important. The lessons are motivating and rich in detail, which is why I recommend the course taught by the exceptional Professor Elena Bulakh to anyone interested.
Joana F. (Economist)
Fortunately I decided to attend the Course in Russian Language and Culture taught by Professor Elena Bulakh. The lessons are very comprehensive, informative and enthusiastic. Professor Elena Bulakh encourages us to improve, with great dedication, patience and a deep knowledge of the course, in terms of the themes of language and culture, as well as the areas that are covered in a specific and varied way, which allows each student to successfully achieve the proposed knowledge. She is an excellent teacher and the course is essential for anyone who wants to get to know the Russian world, in all its richness and diversity.
Filipe Barroso (Teacher and Historian)
It is with great gratitude and satisfaction that I make a very positive assessment of the Russian language and culture course taught by Professor Elena. I emphasize its dynamic and personalized method, through the presentation by various means (audio, video, manuals, etc.) and numerous aspects of the Russian language and culture were addressed, allowing the student to gain knowledge about the culture/traditions of the language.
With regard specifically to the Russian language, I highlight the manuals whose grammatical content is quite accessible and fundamental for understanding the essential aspects to correctly master the language.
Finally, it is essential to mention a determining factor of this course which is undoubtedly the professionalism, vast experience, friendly personality and the humor of Professor Elena, that leaves no student indifferent and that contributes greatly to the success of this course.
A special thanks to Professor Elena and SOCIUS for providing this type of training.
Antonio G. (Consultant)
The Russian language and culture course exceeded my expectations of the knowledge I would acquire. With this course, which is very comprehensive and never boring, students not only learn to understand and use the Russian language, but also get important facts about Russian culture and way of life, which contribute to a better understanding of the people themselves in a detailed historical context.
Professor Elena showed excellent dedication and competence, and it was noticeable that she has a very interesting ability to adapt to each individual student. Professor Elena was always available to answer any questions I had and to provide teaching material to help me study.
This course gave me the grammatical and vocabulary knowledge I needed to start learning Russian. I would like to thank SOCIUS and Professor Elena for the high quality work they are doing and for the dedication they show to teaching.
Ricardo A. (University student)
